Israel Recovers Last Hostage's Remains, Paving Way for Rafah Crossing Reopening

Remains of Ran Gvili Recovered from Gaza

The Israeli military announced on Monday, January 26, 2026, the recovery of the remains of police officer Ran Gvili from the Gaza Strip. Gvili, who was 24 at the time of his death, was killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities and his body subsequently taken to Gaza. His recovery marks the return of the last hostage from that attack, closing a painful chapter for Israel after 843 days.

According to reports, Gvili, an officer in an elite police unit, was off-duty and recovering from a broken shoulder on October 7, 2023, but rushed to defend Kibbutz Alumim against the militants. His remains were located in a cemetery in central Gaza, specifically a Muslim cemetery in eastern Gaza City, following an operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) based on intelligence information. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Gvili as 'a hero of Israel,' stating, 'Rani is a hero of Israel, who went in first and he emerged last.'

Rafah Crossing Set for Limited Reopening

The recovery of Gvili's remains fulfills a key condition set by Israel for the reopening of the Rafah Crossing, the main gateway between Gaza and Egypt. The crossing has been closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of it during the ongoing conflict. Prime Minister Netanyahu's office had conditioned the reopening on the completion of the search for Gvili's body.

The reopening will be 'limited' and designated for 'pedestrian passage only,' subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism. The move follows significant international pressure, including from U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who have been advocating for the crossing's resumption as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's broader peace plan for Gaza. The Palestinian committee of technocrats, backed by the U.S. to administer Gaza, indicated that the border crossing would open this week.

Broader Context and Future Implications

Gvili was among 251 individuals taken hostage by militants during the October 7, 2023, attack. His return means that, for the first time since 2014, no Israelis remain held captive in the Gaza Strip. The recovery of his body also marks the completion of the initial phase of the U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement, which aims to wind down the conflict.

The next phases of this peace plan reportedly include:

• The disarming of Hamas
• A gradual withdrawal of the IDF
• The initial reconstruction of Gaza
• The establishment of a new, non-threatening governance in Gaza

The reopening of the Rafah Crossing is seen as a crucial step towards easing humanitarian access and allowing Palestinians who fled the war to potentially reunite with their families.