Post by : Meena Ariff

The Israeli military has confirmed that the remains of police officer Ran Gvili, who had been held in Gaza for more than 840 days, have been identified and will be returned to Israel for burial.

Officials say the recovery of Gvili’s remains could clear the way for a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the territory’s main link to the outside world. Israeli authorities had earlier pledged that progress on hostages was a key condition for reopening the crossing.

A US-backed Palestinian technocratic committee expected to administer Gaza has stated that the Rafah Crossing is likely to open later this week. However, an Israeli government spokesperson declined to give a timeline when asked about the reopening.

Ran Gvili was killed during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which targeted communities in southern Israel and triggered a prolonged Israeli military campaign in Gaza. At the time of the attack, Gvili was off duty and recovering from an injury.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recovery of Gvili’s remains as an “unbelievable achievement for the State of Israel,” calling it an important moment for the country.

Gvili was among the 251 people taken to Gaza during the October 7 attack. When Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement in October, 48 hostages were still believed to be in Gaza, including 28 thought to have died. The return of all remaining hostages, both living and deceased, was a central part of the first phase of the agreement, though several other elements remain unresolved.

In Israel, the return of Gvili’s body has been widely viewed as a step toward national healing after months of uncertainty for families of the hostages.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced that its plan to end the conflict will move into a next phase, focusing on Gaza’s reconstruction and the territory’s demilitarization.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the discovery of Gvili’s remains reflects Hamas’ commitment to the agreement. He added that the group would continue supporting the planned national administration for Gaza and claimed that information provided by Hamas helped locate the body.

The Rafah Crossing was originally expected to reopen during the initial phase of the ceasefire plan, but Israeli officials had raised objections, insisting that the final hostage remains be returned first.

Reports indicate that Israel may seek to limit the number of Palestinians entering Gaza through Rafah and require security screening at an Israeli-controlled checkpoint.

The October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel, according to Israeli figures. Gaza health authorities say Israel’s military offensive since then has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians.

#Global News