Israel Conducts Large-Scale Military Operations To Locate Ran Gvili, Last Hostage Of Hamas, In Gaza

Last Updated:January 26, 2026, 17:09 IST

Israel conducts operation in Gaza to locate hostage Ran Gvili, as US envoys urge Netanyahu to reopen Rafah crossing amid ongoing ceasefire talks and humanitarian efforts.

People hold signs with a photo of Ran Gvili, who was killed while fighting Hamas militants during the October 7, 2023 attack and whose body has been held in Gaza ever since, during a rally calling for his return in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday. (Image: AP)

Amid pressure from the US and those involved in Gaza peace deal to move towards the next phase of ceasefire, Israel on Sunday said its military was conducting a “large-scale operation" to locate the last hostage.

Late Sunday, Netanyahu’s office in a statement said: “Upon completion of this operations, and in accordance with what has been agreed upon with the United States, Israel will open the Rafah crossing."

However, it did not give details of how long will the search take place.

Associated Press quoted Israeli military saying that the victim, Ran Gvili, may have been buried in the Shijaiya-Tuffah area of Gaza City, and that rabbis and dental experts were on the ground with specialized search teams.

The statement comes amid Israel Cabinet’s meeting to discuss the possibility of opening Gaza’s key Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, on Sunday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt during a meeting in Jerusalem.

The meeting comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilise Gaza and restore humanitarian access to the region.

According to Israeli media report, the news site Ynet, citing an unnamed official, described the meeting as “positive" but said Witkoff pressed for the crossing to reopen even before Hamas returns the remains of the last Israeli hostage believed to be held in Gaza.

According to Associated Press, the return of the remaining hostage, Ran Gvili, has been widely seen as removing the remaining obstacle to moving ahead with opening the Rafah crossing and proceeding with the US-brokered ceasefire’s second phase.

The return of all remaining hostages, alive or dead, was been key part of the first phase of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10 last year.

AP quoted Gvili’s family urging Netanyahu’s government not to enter the ceasefire’s second phase until his remains are returned.

News world Israel Conducts Large-Scale Military Operations To Locate Ran Gvili, Last Hostage Of Hamas, In Gaza

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