Hamas Renews Search for Final Hostage Ran Gvili

Hamas terrorists and members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad renewed searches on Wednesday for the final hostage whose remains are still held, Ran Gvili. The activity is taking place in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, near the Yellow Line dividing Hamas-held areas from territory controlled by Israel.

An Israeli source confirmed that the renewed effort is being carried out in coordination with Israel, allowing search teams to operate inside IDF-controlled areas east of the Yellow Line. Egyptian workers and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross are accompanying the effort, while Hamas terrorists secure the perimeter.

Israel has made clear that progress on key diplomatic steps hinges on the outcome of the search. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the Rafah Border Crossing will not open until Gvili’s remains are returned to Israel. Israeli officials have also linked the move to the start of Phase II of the Gaza agreement.

Gvili’s parents, Itzik and Talik Gvili, said the resumption of searches has brought relief after weeks of uncertainty. “After a difficult month of uncertainty and a sense of paralysis, we feel great relief that the search teams have returned to the field,” they said. “Every minute feels like an eternity for us, and knowing that every piece of land in Gaza is being searched again to find Rani gives us renewed hope.”

They voiced support for the government’s stance on Rafah, saying, “It is time for Hamas to understand that there will be no free gifts. The Rafah Crossing must not open until our Rani comes home.” Calling on mediators to act decisively, they added, “We demand that the mediators use all their influence to complete the deal and put an end to this suffering. Rani, we are waiting for you. We will not stop for a moment until you return.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed the operational decision to resume the search, saying pressure on Hamas remains essential. “We believe that an agreement has two sides and both must honor their commitments,” the group said. “Pressure on Hamas is an essential tool for achieving a breakthrough.”

Reports over recent weeks have offered conflicting accounts of Gvili’s whereabouts. A Saudi newspaper last month cited Palestinian sources claiming Israel carried out covert activity in Gaza, including the seizure of an Islamic Jihad operative, as part of efforts to locate the remains. Islamic Jihad sources said the body had been transferred to Hamas due to coordination between factions, while Hamas claimed that those who oversaw Gvili’s captivity were killed in Israeli strikes. Israeli intelligence shared with mediators roughly three weeks ago did not lead to findings after searches at multiple sites in Zeitoun and Shejaiya.