Israel recovers remains of last Gaza hostage as ceasefire enters a harder second phase

JERUSALEM — Israel announced Monday it had recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, described as the last hostage held in Gaza, a milestone that closes the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and pushes the agreement into a more difficult next chapter.

Israeli officials said Gvili’s remains were found in a cemetery in northern Gaza. His return, long demanded by relatives and widely viewed as a critical condition for moving forward, prompted renewed focus on what comes next in a deal that has already required painful concessions on both sides.

The second phase is expected to tackle higher-stakes issues, including the possible reopening of Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt and broader arrangements covering security, humanitarian access, and governance. The transition is politically sensitive in Israel and fraught in Gaza, where people hope a border opening would make it easier to travel, seek medical care, and increase aid flows.

Israel’s leadership portrayed the recovery as both a national obligation and an operational success, while acknowledging the ceasefire’s next steps are more complex. Hamas has indicated it remains committed to the ceasefire terms completed so far, but disagreements remain over demobilization, future control in Gaza, and the sequencing of withdrawals and security measures.

The ceasefire has reduced large-scale fighting compared with earlier periods, yet the humanitarian crisis and political tensions remain acute. As negotiators pivot to the next stage, families of victims and hostages, displaced Palestinians, and regional actors are watching closely to see whether the truce can be sustained and translated into longer-term stability.