Key Facts
• On January 26, 2026, Israeli military retrieved remains of last hostage, Ran Gvirli (24), in Gaza.
• Hamas and Israel agreed on first phase of Gaza peace plan in October 2025.
• Agreement included ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, partial Israeli military withdrawal, and increased humanitarian aid.
• Ran Gvirli’s remains had not been handed over until this retrieval.
• Israeli forces began searching a Gaza burial site on January 25, within the “Yellow Line” military withdrawal zone.
• Hamas provided all details on Gvirli’s location to mediators.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the retrieval an “extraordinary achievement.”
• Netanyahu promised to bring all hostages back, including the last one.
• After operation completion, Israel plans to reopen main Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah.
• The second phase of the peace plan involves Gaza reconstruction, full disarmament of Hamas and other groups, deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), and phased Israeli withdrawal.
• Gvirli’s family expressed relief mixed with sadness; his return ends 843 days of Israeli suffering over hostages.
• Since 2014, Israeli hostages in Gaza have been held; Gvirli’s return marks zero Israeli detainees in Gaza for first time in 12 years.
• The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack led to 251 Israelis taken hostage and about 1,200 Israeli deaths.
• Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 71,660 Palestinian deaths, per Gaza Health Ministry.
• Former U.S. President Donald Trump praised the retrieval on social media, calling it a “great job” by his “champion team.”
Summary
On January 26, 2026, the Israeli Defense Forces announced the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvirli, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. This milestone concludes nearly two and a half years of Israeli anguish over hostages taken during the conflict that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. The retrieval was made possible by Hamas providing detailed information to mediators and Israeli forces conducting a targeted search within the agreed military withdrawal zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the operation as a significant success and reaffirmed his commitment to bringing all hostages home. The recovery paves the way for advancing the U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan to its second phase, which includes Gaza’s reconstruction, full disarmament of Hamas and other factions, deployment of an international stabilization force, and phased Israeli military withdrawal. While the operation marks a closure for the families and the nation, challenges remain regarding Gaza’s future security and political landscape. The event also ended a 12-year period with Israeli hostages held in Gaza, underscoring the deep-rooted complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
