NAHARIYA, Israel (AP) — On Sunday, Israel announced that its military was conducting a “large-scale operation” aimed at locating the last hostage in Gaza. This development comes amid increasing pressure from Washington and other mediators urging both Israel and Hamas to progress to the next phase of their ceasefire agreement.
The announcement was made as Israel’s Cabinet convened to discuss the possibility of reopening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. This meeting took place one day after high-level U.S. envoys engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding future steps in the region. The recovery of the last hostage, identified as Ran Gvili, is perceived as a key requirement for advancing the Rafah crossing's reopening and facilitating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire’s second phase.
In a late Sunday statement, Netanyahu's office indicated that the Rafah crossing would be opened “upon completion of this operation and in accordance with what has been agreed upon with the United States.” However, it did not provide specifics regarding the timeline for this operation, with Israeli military officials suggesting it might take several days to finalize. The return of all remaining hostages, dead or alive, has been highlighted as a crucial aspect of the initial phase of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10. The last hostage was recovered in early December.
For the first time, Israel's military released more detailed information about its search efforts for Gvili, indicating they were focusing on a cemetery in northern Gaza near the Yellow Line, the boundary demarcating Israeli-controlled regions in the territory. Furthermore, an Israeli military official disclosed that Gvili might have been buried in the Shijaiya-Tuffah area of Gaza City, noting that specialized teams, including rabbis and dental experts, were on-site. The official chose to remain anonymous due to the ongoing nature of the operation.
Gvili's family has publicly urged the Netanyahu administration to delay entering the next ceasefire phase until their loved one's remains are appropriately returned. However, mounting pressure is evident, particularly as the Trump administration has asserted that the second phase of the ceasefire is already in progress. Israel has consistently accused Hamas of delaying the process for recovering the final hostage, while Hamas has countered by claiming it has shared all information available regarding Gvili's remains, accusing Israel of hindering search efforts in areas under Israeli military control.
In an unrelated incident, the shuttered headquarters of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem was set ablaze overnight. This occurred shortly after Israeli bulldozers demolished sections of the compound. The identity of those responsible for the fire remains unclear, although Israeli settlers were reportedly seen looting the main building for furniture, according to Roland Friedrich, UNRWA's West Bank director. He noted that multiple holes had been cut into the fence surrounding the building. Israel's fire department was dispatched to prevent the blaze from spreading.
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, condemned the incident, characterizing it as part of the ongoing efforts to undermine the status of Palestinian refugees. The agency is tasked with providing aid and services to approximately 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, alongside an additional 3 million refugees across Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. However, its operations faced restrictions after the Knesset enacted legislation limiting its activities in what it defines as Israel, encompassing East Jerusalem.
For years, Israel has criticized UNRWA, alleging ties to Hamas and claiming that some of its employees participated in the 2023 attacks that prompted the ongoing conflict in Gaza. UNRWA management has insisted that they have acted swiftly against personnel implicated in these allegations and have denied any collaboration with Hamas.
