Israel has recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza, bringing to a close a long and deeply emotional chapter that has weighed heavily on Israeli society since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.
Israeli authorities confirmed on Monday that Gvili’s body had been returned from Gaza and formally identified, marking the end of a process that began when 251 people were taken hostage during the unprecedented assault on southern Israel. Their return unfolded over more than two years of war through a combination of ceasefire agreements, prisoner exchanges and military recovery efforts.
Gvili’s return took place under the framework of a US-backed ceasefire agreement that came into force in October, aimed at halting prolonged fighting that has devastated the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials said the completion of the hostage returns clears the way for a limited reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a critical route for humanitarian aid.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously indicated that pedestrian traffic at Rafah would resume, subject to Israeli inspection, once every hostage had been accounted for. The return of Gvili's remains fulfils that condition.
A convoy escorted Gvili’s coffin into Israel, accompanied by sirens and flashing lights as onlookers lined the roads waving Israeli flags. At a military base near Gaza, a ceremony was held in his honour. Speaking beside the coffin, his father, Ytzik Gvili, addressed his son directly, expressing pride that military honours were rendered.
Netanyahu described Gvili as “a hero of Israel”, while President Isaac Herzog said the moment marked a historic milestone. “For the first time since 2014, there are no Israeli citizens held hostage in Gaza,” Herzog said, adding that the nation had waited and prayed for this outcome.
Hamas said it had provided information on the location of Gvili’s body, with a spokesperson stating that the recovery demonstrated the group’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement. The first phase of the deal necessitated the return of all hostages, a condition that Gvili's family insisted upon before proceeding with further negotiations.
Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer serving in the elite Yassam unit, had been on medical leave ahead of shoulder surgery when the October 2023 attack began. According to Israeli officials, he armed himself and rushed toward the fighting, where he was killed in combat. Militants took his body to Gaza.
His mother, Talik Gvili, said the family felt a sense of relief after months of uncertainty. She told Israeli media that her son had been recovered wearing his uniform, describing his return as both painful and consoling.
The Israeli military released footage showing Gvili’s coffin draped in the national flag as soldiers sang the national anthem. In a statement, the military said that with the recovery of his remains, “all hostages have been returned from the Gaza Strip to the State of Israel.”
US President Donald Trump welcomed the development, calling it an achievement many had believed impossible. Netanyahu said Israel was now preparing for the next phase of the ceasefire framework, which includes demands for Hamas to disarm and for Gaza to be demilitarised—terms the group has so far resisted.
While diplomacy continues amid fragile calm, the return of the final hostage brings a moment of collective closure for Israelis, even as broader questions about Gaza’s future and long-term security remain unresolved.
