Remains of final Israeli hostage present in Gaza, says navy | EUROtoday

Israel has retrieved the stays of the final hostage held in Gaza, the nation’s navy has mentioned.

An Israeli official advised Reuters that the stays of 24-year-old police officer Ran Gvili had been found on Monday, bringing an finish to the primary section of the US-brokered ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas.

Gvili’s corpse will now be returned for burial, the navy mentioned in a press release.

Israel beforehand mentioned Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the most well-liked crossing for getting into and leaving the enclave, can be reopened as soon as Gvili’s stays have been returned.

Gvili had been held in Gaza since he was killed at Kibbutz Alumim throughout Hamas’ assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

On Sunday, the navy launched a “large-scale operation” in Gaza to find his physique, after Washington and different mediators intensified stress on Israel and Hamas to progress to the following section of their ceasefire settlement.

In a press release, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters mentioned Gvili was a “true friend, loved by everyone” who carried a “powerful yet calm presence”.

His launch got here as a part of a ceasefire deal agreed in October, which was purported to see the Israeli navy halt all operations whereas Palestinian militant group Hamas returned the remaining 48 hostages, together with 28 who have been already lifeless.

The dwelling hostages have been freed within the weeks following, however Hamas mentioned it had been unable to find the physique of the the ultimate hostage.

The Rafah Crossing is predicted to open this week, and will likely be staffed by Palestinians affiliated with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and monitored by EU personnel – which is the way it was run throughout a earlier ceasefire.

Israel desires to make sure extra Palestinians depart Gaza by the Rafah crossing than are allowed again in, three sources briefed on the matter advised Reuters information company.

Ali Shaath, the chief of a US-backed transitional Palestinian committee to briefly administer Gaza, mentioned the crossing would open this week.

The border was purported to have been opened in the course of the first section of the ceasefire.

During the second section, Israel is predicted to withdraw troops farther from Gaza and Hamas is about to surrender administrative management of the territory.