According to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Israeli security forces have captured a terrorist from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as part of ongoing efforts to locate Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last hostage still held in the Gaza Strip.
The report said Israel has continued to search for clues related Gvili and, in that context, Israeli security forces have carried out covert operations west of "yellow line", in an area under Hamas control. Hamas recently claimed that its own searches in Jabaliya and the Zeitoun neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip had failed to locate Gvili.
Palestinian sources, some affiliated with terrorist organizations, told the newspaper that Israel has been conducting clandestine operations as part of the search, including the capture of an Islamic Jihad terrorist from the Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. The sources said the operative was seized near Palestine Square in Gaza City.
According to the Palestinian sources, the terrorist was captured roughly one kilometer from the yellow line several days ago. They said the operation was carried out by a special Israeli unit and that Israel believes the suspect has a direct connection to the location of the deceased hostage.
The Saudi newspaper also reported that about a month ago an Israeli delegation visited Cairo, where it met with senior Egyptian officials and a team of mediators to discuss several issues, including the return of Gvili.
According to the report, those meetings produced the names of individuals allegedly responsible for abducting Gvili and holding his body, as well as locations where he may be kept.
