Hamas says it disclosed location of last Israeli soldier's body in Gaza

The armed wing of Hamas announced on Sunday that it has provided mediators with specific details regarding the location of the body of the last Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip. The disclosure is a pivotal step in resolving a key outstanding issue from the ceasefire agreement, even as disputes over its full implementation continue to hinder progress.

A critical step to 'close the file'

In a statement, a spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades said the group shared "all available details" about the body of Israeli soldier Ran Gvili with international mediators. "The (Israeli) enemy is now conducting searches in one of the locations based on the information we provided," he stated, asserting that Hamas has handled matters related to captives and remains with "full transparency." The spokesman emphasized that Al-Qassam fulfilled its obligations by releasing captives "as quickly as possible" and is now seeking to "close the file," calling on mediators to ensure Israel also complies with the deal's terms.

Israeli confirmation and the Rafah crossing linkage

Israeli authorities confirmed a search operation is underway. According to reports, the Israeli military, acting on intelligence, is searching a Muslim cemetery in eastern Gaza City for Gvili's remains. The office of Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the effort would "continue as long as necessary." This development is directly linked to a major humanitarian issue: Israel has conditioned the reopening of the Palestinian side of the vital Rafah border crossing with Egypt on the return of this last captive's body. Although a Gaza administration official announced a planned reopening next week, Israel has not confirmed this, leaving a critical lifeline for aid and movement in limbo.

The broader context of a fragile ceasefire

Since the first phase of the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Palestinian factions have released 20 living Israeli captives and returned the remains of 27 others. Gvili's body is the final, unresolved case. The second phase of the agreement, which includes disarmament, further Israeli withdrawals, and a $70 billion reconstruction plan, remains stalled. The underlying war, which began in October 2023, resulted in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and catastrophic infrastructure damage. Despite the truce, Palestinian health authorities report that ongoing Israeli military actions have killed 484 more Palestinians and wounded over 1,300, underscoring the fragility of the peace. The situation demands sustained international engagement, a principle supported by nations like Türkiye, which advocate for the full implementation of agreements to achieve lasting stability.