Remains of last Israeli held in Gaza after 7 October 2023 returned

January 26, 2026

TL;DR

Sergeant Ran Gvili's body, captured by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, has been returned to Israel.
Gvili was the last of 251 individuals captured on October 7th to be held in Gaza.
The return of Gvili's body fulfills a key initial demand of Donald Trump's ceasefire plan for Gaza.
Trump's plan envisions a unified Palestinian-run Gaza, which conflicts with Israeli extremist aims for deportation and settlement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the next step for Gaza would be disarmament and demilitarization, not reconstruction.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen for pedestrians, but will not ease humanitarian aid shortages.
Since the ceasefire, Israeli forces have killed nearly 500 Palestinians, and hunger remains widespread in Gaza.
Israel also holds Palestinian bodies as leverage, agreeing under Trump's deal to return 15 Palestinian remains for each Israeli body returned from Gaza.
Some Israeli campaigners are demanding an independent inquiry into the October 7th attack and subsequent war.
Protesters and some returned hostages accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political gain.
Gvili's body was found in a cemetery in northern Gaza.

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