Egyptian army soldiers guard their side of the Rafah crossing, closed since early May, on July 4, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement continues. Israel said on January 26, 2026, it would only allow pedestrians to travel through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt as part of its "limited reopening" once it has recovered the remains of the last hostage in the Palestinian territory. (Credit: Giuseppe Cacace/ AFP)
Israel has retrieved the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war.
The remains of police officer Ran Gvili's have been identified and will be returned for burial, the military said in a statement.
Israel has said that it will reopen Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the enclave's main gateway to the world, once Gvili's remains are returned or the search operation for his body concludes.
Gvili had been held in Gaza since he was killed at Kibbutz Alumim during Hamas' attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hamas and Israel agreed to a cease-fire in October under pressure from regional powers and Trump, who called the deal a first step toward a "strong, durable and everlasting peace."
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