Israel says final hostage physique returned from Gaza : NPR

Israelis light the 8th candle of Hanukkah in Hostage Square holding placards bearing the face of Ran Gvili in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 21, 2025, as they call for the return of his remains. Of the 251 people taken hostage during Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war in Gaza, all but the remains of Israeli Ran Gvili have been handed over. (Photo by ILIA YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images)

Israelis gentle the eighth candle of Hanukkah in Hostage Sq. holding placards bearing the face of Ran Gvili in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 21, 2025, as they name for the return of his stays.

Ilia Yefimovich/AFP by way of Getty Photos

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Ilia Yefimovich/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Israel mentioned Monday it recognized the physique of the ultimate Israeli hostage in Gaza and returned it to Israel, paving the way in which for the long-awaited subsequent steps in President Trump’s peace plan.

People hold signs with a photo of Ran Gvili, who was killed while fighting Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and whose body has been held in Gaza ever since, during a rally calling for his return in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.

The army mentioned in a press release that Ran Gvili, 24, a particular forces policeman, was killed whereas combating militants throughout the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, assaults. His physique was taken to Gaza by members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group than Hamas that joined within the assaults.

The army mentioned it launched a “large-scale operation” for his physique over the weekend in a cemetery in northern Gaza, appearing primarily based on intelligence. The method required exhuming the our bodies of deceased Palestinians till the crew, together with dental specialists, recognized Gvili’s stays.

Hamas-led fighters captured 251 hostages in Israel on Oct 7, 2023, in response to Israeli authorities.

“We now have introduced again Rani Gvili, of blessed reminiscence, a hero of Israel. There aren’t any extra hostages in Gaza,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the nation’s parliament Monday.

He and different Israeli leaders eliminated a yellow ribbon pin they have been carrying all through the struggle that represented the hostages in Gaza. “All of us wore the pin, and now that the mission has been accomplished, it’s time to take away it,” Netanyahu mentioned.

Hamas-led fighters captured 251 hostages in Israel within the Oct. 7, 2023, assault, in response to Israeli authorities. The return of Gvili’s stays is predicted to mark the top of the primary section of the U.S.-backed ceasefire within the struggle in Gaza.

It may additionally pave the way in which for an additional huge step. The Israeli authorities mentioned it will permit Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt to reopen once more for Palestinians to enter and exit. It will mark the primary time for that border to partially open since Might 2024, when Israeli forces took over southern Gaza and the realm of Rafah.

The Rafah border is not going to be opened by Israel to permit support to straight enter from Egypt. Individuals who enter and exit by way of that border might be permitted solely by Israel after a vetting of names. Worldwide journalists are nonetheless barred from freely coming into Gaza.

Future steps of the ceasefire settlement embrace Hamas laying down its weapons and Israel withdrawing from Gaza — contentious factors over which negotiations haven’t but begun.

President Trump holds up his signature on the founding charter during a signing ceremony for the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland. The final makeup of the board has not been confirmed. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump’s plan additionally says an “worldwide stabilization pressure” of troops from numerous nations will deploy to Gaza, retrained Palestinian police would take over safety and a Palestinian technocratic committee would take over governance from Hamas.

President Trump celebrated the return of the ultimate Israeli hostage on his social media platform. The president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner additionally welcomed the information, saying he, Trump and U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff had labored with the CIA, Israelis and Gazans to make it potential.

“For the primary time since 2014 there aren’t any Israeli hostages held in Gaza,” Kushner wrote on X.

Hamas spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, mentioned in a press release that the invention of the final Israeli physique in Gaza confirmed Hamas’ dedication to the ceasefire’s necessities and that the Rafah crossing ought to open at once.

Gaza’s Civil Protection rescue providers mentioned 1000’s of our bodies of Palestinian civilians stay below the rubble of buildings bombed by Israel in additional than two years of struggle, saying their retrieval has been unattainable as a result of lack of heavy tools. They known as for heavy tools to retrieve the useless and reconstruction supplies to be introduced by way of the Rafah crossing.

Palestinian activists, in the meantime, accuse Israel of constant to carry the our bodies of tons of of useless Palestinians, together with youngsters.

It is a creating story that could be up to date.

Israeli soldiers continue search operations for the remains of an Israeli hostage in a mass grave located in the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on Monday. Tanks and heavy machinery belonging to the Israeli army are observed operating in the area during the ongoing excavation and recovery efforts.

Israeli troopers proceed search operations for the stays of an Israeli hostage in a mass grave positioned within the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza Metropolis, Gaza Strip, on Monday. Tanks and heavy equipment belonging to the Israeli military are noticed working within the space throughout the ongoing excavation and restoration efforts.

Anadolu/Getty Photos

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Anadolu/Getty Photos

Daniel Estrin and Itay Stern contributed reporting from Tel Aviv, Israel.