The remains of thelast hostage heldin Gaza have been identified, the Israeli military said Monday, ending a more than two-year saga for captives' families in Israel — and paving the way for thesecond phaseof the ceasefire in the war-torn enclave.
For months, only one hostage body remained in Gaza, that of Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer killed during the Hamas-led attack Oct. 7, 2023.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Monday that Gvili's family had been informed "that their loved one has been identified and will be returned for burial."
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the development confirmed its commitment to the requirements of the ceasefire deal.
On Sunday, Israeli officials said they hadlaunched a "large-scale operation"to locate Gvili's body amid growing pressure to move into the second phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas.
"Ran Gvili, the last hostage in Gaza, has been brought home," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the families of Israeli hostages, said in a statement Monday.
"First to enter. Last to return," it said, noting that Israeli authorities have concluded that Gvili was killed in battle during the Oct. 7 attack before his remains were taken into Gaza.
The development marks the completion of a key pillar of thetrucebrokered in part by PresidentDonald Trump,after months of mounting tension over delays and alleged violations.
"Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA. Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead! AMAZING JOB!" Trump said in a statement on Truth Social. "Most thought of it as an impossible thing to do. Congratulations to my great team of Champions!!!"
According to the ceasefire, the next stage will include the partialreopening of Gaza's key Rafah border crossingwith Egypt, Israel has said.
The truce's second stage, which Trump said earlier this month was getting underway, would also require thedisarmament of Hamas, a key sticking point in negotiations, and the makeup of Trump's international force to oversee security in Gaza.
Underphase oneof the truce, which came into effect Oct. 10, Hamas agreed to release all living and dead hostages in Gaza. In exchange, Israel released scores ofPalestinian prisoners and detaineesback to Gaza,including remains.
The completion of the first phase was delayed, however, as Hamas said it hadstruggled to locate all the remainsunder the rubble of buildings.
Many of the 251 total hostages held in Gaza had been released underprevious ceasefire dealsthroughout the conflict, while several, includingNoa Argamani, were rescued in operations carried out by Israeli forces.
Hostages have also been killed under Israel's military operations in Gaza, with soldiers accidentally shooting and killing three Israeli hostages in an incident in December 2023.
The fragile truce has been strained throughout, with Israeli forceslaunching deadly strikesafter accusing Hamas of attacking Israeli forces and violating the ceasefire.
The militant group has denied those accusations and alleged that Israel has itself violated the truce by killing Palestinians in Gaza, with more than 480 people killed in the enclave since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza health officials. Israel also still controls about half of the territory.
Focus will now shift to the next phases of the plan, which is ultimately expected to bring an end to the conflict in the enclave.
Trump's son-in-lawJared Kushnerrecently revealed plans for a "New Gaza" marked by towering high-rises and beaches filled with tourists — a far cry from the current reality of a territory reduced to rubble by the U.S. ally's more than two-year offensive.
Trump has pushed forward with his plan fora "Board of Peace,"which he first pitched as a body to oversee peace efforts in the Gaza Strip before broadening its remit. Key U.S. allies have opted out amid concerns over its charter, which makes no mention of Gaza and is viewed by some as undermining the United Nations.