Israel has announced that it has recovered the remains of the last Israeli hostage previously missing in Gaza, a development that could help move the ceasefire process forward. The Israeli military said the body of Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, a police officer taken during the October 7, 2023 attack, was found after weeks of intelligence-driven operations in Gaza.

Gvili had been the only hostage whose location was still unknown since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025. Under the terms of the truce, Hamas was required to return all hostages, living or deceased, within 72 hours. While dozens of captives were handed over within the agreed timeframe, Hamas had earlier claimed it could not locate Gvili’s remains until now.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recovery as a deeply important moment for the country. He said Israel had fulfilled its promise to bring every captive home, stressing that no one would be left behind. The government views the recovery as a key step in closing a painful chapter of the conflict for affected families.

On its part, Hamas said the development showed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement. A spokesperson for the group stated that the recovery confirmed its compliance with the truce terms and reiterated its readiness to continue with the agreement. Observers say the development may help ease tensions and clear the way for the next phase of talks.