A source familiar with the details told Israel Hayom on Saturday that US President Donald Trump is considering announcing a move to Phase B of his Gaza reconstruction plan even before the return of the last hostage remaining in Gaza, Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili.
According to the source, the administration is applying heavy pressure on the matter, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist that Hamas must fulfill its obligation to return all the hostages as required in Phase A of the agreement. Netanyahu's office did not respond to Israel Hayom's request for comment.
Under Trump's 20-point plan, Phase A of the deal to end the war requires the return of all hostages, both living and dead, within 72 hours, a timetable that Hamas has entirely failed to meet. Point 6 states that after the return of all hostages, any Hamas members who pledge to live in peaceful coexistence and demilitarize will be rehabilitated and granted amnesty. Hamas members who wish to leave Gaza will receive safe passage to any country willing to accept them. To date, there is no indication that any Hamas member has agreed to peaceful coexistence with Israel, to disarm or to relocate.
Although these provisions have not been implemented, Trump is seeking to move forward with the timeline, with the administration aiming to begin reconstruction work in Gaza as early as March 2026.
The Gvili family, the parents of the hostage, said in a statement: "Phase A of the hostage deal is not complete as long as Ran has not returned home. We demand that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump pressure Hamas and Islamic Jihad to bring Ran home immediately. It is impossible to move to the second phase of the deal without Rani here."
The last hostage in Gaza
Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, 24, a Yasam police officer from Meitar, is the last hostage still held in the Gaza Strip. This follows the return of hostage Sutthisak Rinthalak to Israel last week.
Gvili served in the Yasam Negev unit and fought with extraordinary bravery in the battle at Alumim on October 7. On the black Saturday, he left his home in Meitar for the Gaza border communities despite suffering from a shoulder fracture. There he rescued more than 100 people from the Nova music festival and killed 14 terrorists before being abducted.
