Israeli forces have recovered the body of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the final hostage believed to be held in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. The retrieval paves the way for the next phase of a peace plan, which includes the reconstruction and demilitarization of Gaza.
Ran Gvili’s Return and the Ceasefire
The Israeli military had been searching for Gvili since the ceasefire with Hamas began in October. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Gvili’s return “an extraordinary achievement,” stating, “We promised – and I promised – to bring everyone back. We brought them all back, down to the very last captive.”
The search for Gvili began Sunday morning in a cemetery near Gaza City. Hamas’s armed wing said it had provided mediators with all relevant information regarding his location. Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel would reopen Gaza’s key border crossing with Egypt upon completion of the operation to find and return Gvili.
Itzik Gvili, the hostage’s father, delivered an emotional goodbye to his son in front of his coffin. “You had the option to stay home, but you said to me: ‘Father, I’m not going to leave my friends to fight alone,’” he said.
Rani Gvili’s sister, Shira, expressed a sense of relief, stating, “I feel an insane sense of relief. I feel relieved. I am sad. I’m very sad that it ended this way, but it had to end at some point. I am so happy he’s coming back home.”
The retrieval of Gvili brings an end to Israel’s hostage ordeal after 843 days and allows for further progress in the Gaza ceasefire deal. Israel had previously resisted moving forward until Gvili was found.
Next Steps in the Peace Plan
Phase two of the plan involves the reconstruction and full demilitarization of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups. It also includes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and the progressive withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Gvili, a Yamam commando fighter, was 24 years old at the time of his death and fell in battle on October 7, 2023, with his body subsequently abducted to the Gaza Strip. With Gvili’s return, all hostages from the Gaza Strip area have been returned.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming credit for the recovery of Gvili’s body and the return of all hostages. He stated, “Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA. Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead! AMAZING JOB!”
Hamas was initially expected to return all hostages, alive and dead, within 72 hours of the ceasefire. While the process took longer, 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 27 dead Israeli and foreign hostages were eventually returned.
Gvili was one of 251 hostages taken during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed. Most of the hostages were released in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.
The Hamas-run health ministry reports that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in 71,660 Palestinian deaths.
This marks the first time since 2014 that no Israeli hostages, alive or dead, are being held in Gaza, highlighting the deep-rooted nature of the conflict and the challenges in achieving lasting peace.
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