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Israel Searches for Last Hostage in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Pressure
Israel’s military is conducting a “large-scale operation” to locate the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage believed to be in Gaza, as international mediators, including the United States, push for progress toward the next phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Cabinet Discussions and Rafah border Crossing
The search operation coincides with a meeting of Israel’s Cabinet to discuss a potential operation in Rafah, a key border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Opening the Rafah crossing is widely seen as a crucial step toward the second phase of the ceasefire. Top U.S. envoys recently met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss these next steps.
Details of the Search Operation
Israeli forces are currently searching a cemetery in northern Gaza, near the Yellow Line, which delineates the boundary between Israeli-controlled and other parts of the territory. The military has indicated this search is more detailed than previous efforts to locate Gvili. According to an Israeli military official speaking on condition of anonymity, Gvili may be buried in the Shujaiyya-Daraj Tuffah area. Specialized search teams, including rabbis and forensic dental experts, are involved in the operation.
Family Urges caution and International Pressure
gvili’s family has publicly appealed to Netanyahu’s government to refrain from advancing to the next phase of the ceasefire until his remains are recovered. Meanwhile, pressure is