Israel recovers final Gaza hostage, Rafah crossing set to reopen: What to know
The Rafah crossing is expected to allow Palestinians to exit and reenter the Gaza Strip, primarily for those seeking medical treatment.
The Israeli military said Monday it has located and retrieved the body of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, paving the way for the reopening of the Rafah crossing, which Israel had conditioned on the return of the hostage.
Gvili — a 24-year-old policeman — was killed in Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during the Hamas assault in which 251 hostages were abducted. His body has been held in the enclave since.
Search effort
The search for Gvili’s body resumed over the weekend after Hamas provided Israel with information about its possible location. Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that the search took place in Sajaiyeh, along the so-called Yellow Line that separates areas controlled by the Israeli military from those that are not.
