For the first time since 2014, there are no longer any living Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, the IDF said.
According to the military, the body of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, was located during an operational activity by IDF forces in Gaza. The IDF said the identification was definitive, based on dental records, and that a DNA test had not yet been conducted at this stage.
The IDF said several assessments had preceded the recovery regarding Gvili's possible location. Among other efforts, forces conducted an extensive search of a tunnel discovered in the same area, about one kilometer from the final recovery site. The IDF said this was a significant effort that included the use of special capabilities, cameras and advanced surveillance equipment.
Combat engineers from the elite Yahalom unit were deployed inside the tunnel, searching along its walls and underground chambers, but no findings were discovered there. Only later, over the past week, was more precise intelligence received, pointing to the possibility that the body was located in a nearby cemetery.
The IDF said the cemetery was located near what is known as the "yellow line," but during the operation IDF forces crossed the line into the Gaza Strip. A heavy military presence was deployed in the area for deterrence purposes, while messages were simultaneously conveyed through mediators. After the forces entered the area, designated teams marked specific points where it was assessed that bodies were buried.
The forces operated across a large site, carrying out prolonged excavation work using tractors and small, precise engineering tools. The operation was commanded by Maj. Gen. (res.) Golan Vach, drawing on operational experience gained in various arenas around the world. Medical teams and representatives of the Military Rabbinate were also present during the operation.
The IDF said the activity began in the early morning hours, led by the Alexandroni Brigade and engineering forces. During the operation, mass graves were uncovered, enabling the recovery of the bodies. The military attributed the achievement to the sustained and uncompromising military pressure exerted on Hamas, the terrorist organization.
