Israel on Monday confirmed that the remains of Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza, have been recovered and returned home after 842 days.
Gvili, who was 24 at the time of his death, served as an Israel Police officer and was killed during fighting on Oct. 7, 2023, after confronting Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Alumim, according to a statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. His body was later abducted to Gaza.
“Ran, with his broad shoulders and radiant smile, was all heart. A true friend, loved by everyone. He loved life, was a young man of deep values, always spoke at eye level, and carried a powerful yet calm presence,” the group said.
Gvili is survived by his parents, Talik and Itzik, his brother Omri, his sister Shira, and extended family.
AMERICAN-ISRAELI IDF PLATOON COMMANDER KILLED IN BATTLE, BODY HELD IN GAZA, IDF SAYS
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said following the completion of an identification process conducted by Israel’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in coordination with police and military authorities, that officials informed the Gvili family that their loved one’s remains had been identified and would be returned for burial.
The IDF expressed condolences to the family and said all hostages have now been returned from Gaza to Israel.
“Thank you to all those involved in the operation to bring Ran home. This was an operation of immeasurable importance in fulfilling the sacred obligation to redeem captives,” said Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
“After many difficult years, for the first time since 2014, there are no Israeli citizens held hostage in Gaza,” he added. “An entire nation prayed and waited for this moment.”
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In a statement issued Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the recovery of Gvili’s remains was a key condition for Israel’s agreement to a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing for pedestrian passage under President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.
The office said Israel had conditioned a full reopening on the return of all living hostages and a full effort by Hamas to locate and return all deceased hostages.
The return of Gvili’s remains fulfilled the final condition set by Israel for advancing to the next phase of the peace agreement, which the White House said is focused on “lasting peace, stability, reconstruction, and prosperity in the region.”
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said he and other senior U.S. officials met with Netanyahu on Saturday to move forward with implementation planning for phase two of the Trump administration’s Gaza peace plan.
“The discussion was constructive and positive, with both sides aligned on next steps and the importance of continued cooperation on all matters critical to the region,” said Witkoff in a post on X.
