Israel said it has recovered the remains of the last hostage held in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces.
The military identified the remains as those of Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer who was killed during the Hamas-led attack on October 7 that sparked the war. His body had remained in Gaza until it was recovered in a recent operation based on new intelligence.
Israeli officials said the recovery means that no hostages, living or deceased, remain in Gaza.
The announcement comes during an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israeli authorities said the return of Gvili’s remains fulfills a key condition of the agreement and could allow talks to move forward on further security and humanitarian arrangements.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the recovery reflects Israel’s commitment to bringing every hostage home, while noting that broader ceasefire issues remain unresolved.
Hamas said it provided information that helped locate the remains and reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire, while accusing Israel of failing to fully meet its obligations under the deal.
The recovery is being seen as a significant moment in the conflict, even as the ceasefire remains fragile and diplomatic efforts continue.
