Israel announced Monday that the remains of the last hostage in Gaza have been recovered, paving the way for the next phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation involved a “large-scale” search in a northern Gaza cemetery to locate Ran Gvili, a special forces officer killed during the Hamas attack in October 2023.
SFC Ran Gvili is home.
After 843 days, he has finally been returned to Israel. With this, there are officially no more Israeli hostages in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/od8xfEcHu7— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 26, 2026
“The deceased hostage Sergeant First Class Ran Gvili has been identified and will be returned for burial,” the IDF said in a post on X.
The deceased hostage SFC Ran Gvili has been identified and will be returned for burial.
According to the information and intelligence available to us, SFC Ran Gvili, 24, who served in the Israeli Police Special Forces, fell in combat on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, and his body… https://t.co/K4vFVsF60r pic.twitter.com/TN2CWMpKEM
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 26, 2026
“The IDF will continue to accompany the families and the returned hostages and to act to strengthen the security of Israel’s citizens. With this, all of the hostages from the Gaza Strip area have been returned,” the IDF said in another post on X.
The recovery clears the way for further progress in Gaza’s ceasefire deal, which Israel had delayed until Gvili was found.
On Monday, following the return of all hostages, Israel authorized a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing.
“As part of President [Donald] Trump’s 20-point plan, Israel has agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing for pedestrian passage only, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“The reopening of the crossing was conditioned upon the return of all living hostages and a 100% effort by Hamas to locate and return all deceased hostages,” the office added.
Meanwhile, Trump praised his “great team of champions” following the recovery of all hostages, both living and deceased.
“Just recovered the last hostage body in Gaza. Thus, got back all 20 of the living hostages, and all of the dead! Amazing job! Most thought of it as an impossible thing to do. Congratulations to my great team of champions!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday.
The development comes two weeks after the U,S. announced the start of the phase two of its Gaza peace plan, which introduces a technocratic Palestinian government to oversee the territory during a transitional period.
Phase one, implemented in October, established a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, arranged a hostage-prisoner exchange, allowed a partial Israeli withdrawal, and facilitated a surge of humanitarian aid.
Phase two of the ceasefire agreement will focus on the reconstruction and full demilitarization of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
