Palestine/Security/Israel recovers last hostage body, links Rafah crossing reopening to search completion amid ceasefire tensions

Israel recovers last hostage body, links Rafah crossing reopening to search completion amid ceasefire tensions

Jan 31, 2026171 sources

person:netanyahuperson:gviliperson:trumpperson:witkofforg:hamasorg:idforg:mossadtopic:goods

Summary

Israel has recovered the body of Ran Gvili, the last known Israeli hostage held in Gaza, closing a major chapter of the conflict. The recovery operation involved a large-scale search, and Israel has stated it will reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt only after completing this search. Ongoing talks between Israel and Egypt are focused on the conditions for reopening the crossing, all occurring amid rising ceasefire tensions.

Related Coverage

Same story covered from other perspectives

IsraelSecurity

Israel continues military strikes in Gaza, including Rafah, targeting Hamas despite ceasefire

167 sources120 shared

United StatesPolitics

Trump launches Gaza Board of Peace at Davos as some allies decline to join

822 sources13 shared

EgyptHumanitarian

Egypt sends large aid convoys to Gaza as Rafah crossing prepares to reopen

49 sources5 shared

Source Headlines

171 headlines from 33 publishers

Hamas commander captured after attempting to flee south Gaza tunnel — IDF

Jan 30

IDF: 4 armed terrorists killed in strike overnight after approaching troops in central Gaza

Jan 30

IDF hits terror operatives who emerged from tunnel under Rafah; 3 killed, fate of other 5 unclear

Jan 30

Jan. 30: IDF says Hamas commander captured after attempting to flee south Gaza tunnel

Jan 30

Trump claims ‘it looks like’ Hamas will disarm; Witkoff: They’ll give up their AK-47s

Jan 29

EU mission meant to oversee Rafah crossing has 24 staffers in region, hasn't gotten start date

Jan 28

Netanyahu: No Gaza rebuild before Hamas disarms, Israel will keep ‘security control’ over Gaza

Jan 28

Netanyahu: Israeli soldiers lost their lives in Gaza due to Biden-era arms embargo

Jan 27

Police probing suspected large-scale Israeli smuggling ring into Gaza, court reveals

Jan 27

All of them are home now: Body of last hostage Ran Gvili found in Gaza, returned to Israel

Jan 26

Israel says Rafah Crossing to reopen when IDF finishes search for last hostage body

Jan 26

IDF says it demolished 4-kilometer Hamas tunnel with weapons, barracks in Gaza

Jan 25

IDF says it has demolished a Hamas attack tunnel in Gaza

Jan 22

IDF reservist injured in Hamas attack in southern Gaza succumbs to wounds

Jan 22

Netanyahu to convene cabinet next week to discuss return of Gvili's body, opening of Rafah Crossing

Jan 22

IDF reservist injured in October by Hamas attack in southern Gaza succumbs to wounds

Jan 22

IDF says deadly central Gaza strike targeted suspects piloting Hamas drone

Jan 21

Trump says ‘we think we know’ location of Ran Gvili, the last hostage in Gaza

Jan 21

IDF finds weapons cache in Gaza tunnel shaft

Jan 20

Katz in oblique warning to Turkey: We won't let anyone undermine stability through proxies in Gaza or elsewhere

Jan 20

Israel said worried Hamas is emboldened by Trump’s Gaza plan, is looking to rebuild

Jan 19

Israel says Gaza strikes hit senior terrorists in response to truce violation

Jan 16

Israel held chair of Gaza technocratic committee at border for over 6 hours -- Palestinian official

Jan 15

IDF kills suspect who crossed Yellow Line in southern Gaza

Jan 11

IDF carries out airstrike in northern Gaza after suspects cross Yellow Line

Jan 11

IDF troops shoot Palestinian who accelerated car toward them; unclear if deliberate attack

Jan 11

Hamas says 13 killed by IDF strikes after failed rocket attack from Gaza at Israel

Jan 9sv

Two IDF soldiers seriously hurt in separate accidents in Gaza, northern Israel

Jan 6