Israeli forces stood ready to launch a cemetery search operation for Ran Gvili near the Gaza City neighborhoods of Daraj Tuffah and Shujaiyya about a month ago, and military officials pressed the political leadership to authorize the mission; however, Israel Hayom has learned that the political echelon blocked the operation until last weekend. A reserve brigade had completed all combat preparations and remained prepared to execute the search, but after the political delay, that brigade was released, and a different unit underwent the training.
The political leadership granted the IDF permission to proceed with the search for Gvili only at the end of last weekend. Israel had publicly conditioned opening the Rafah crossing and advancing to Phase 2 of negotiations on locating Gvili, yet authorization for the search came only after the US compelled Israel to open the crossing last week.
50% probability of finding Gvili at cemetery
Sunday night brought a Diplomatic-Security Cabinet discussion on the matter. Despite ministerial opposition to opening the crossing, the Prime Minister's Office released a statement declaring the crossing would open under President Donald Trump's 20-point plan. "Opening the crossing was conditioned on returning all living hostages and Hamas making a 100% effort to locate and return all deceased hostages," though the statement's wording indicated the crossing would open "upon completing the operation and per the US agreement," rather than necessarily upon discovering his remains.
Military officials estimate a roughly 50% likelihood of finding Gvili at the cemetery and emphasize the operation's extraordinary complexity, involving dentists examining hundreds of bodies to identify Gvili, rabbis, and IDF burial unit personnel managing forces tasked with inspecting hundreds of remains.
Approximately 200 bodies have been examined thus far without any findings. The operation continues in the coming days. Should his remains not be discovered at this location, searches will continue elsewhere.
