Israel has initiated a significant military operation in Gaza with the primary objective of locating the remains of the final hostage, Ran Gvili. This development comes as international mediators, including the United States, intensify pressure on both Israel and Hamas to advance into the next stage of the ceasefire agreement.
Ceasefire Progress Hinges on Hostage Recovery
The Israeli cabinet convened on Sunday to deliberate on the potential opening of the crucial Rafah border crossing with Egypt. This meeting followed discussions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior US envoys regarding the subsequent steps in the peace process.
Netanyahu's office issued a statement late on Sunday clarifying that Israel will proceed to open the Rafah crossing once the current search operation is thoroughly completed, in alignment with the agreement established with the United States.
Detailed Search Efforts Underway
While Israel has previously conducted searches for Gvili, this latest operation has been described as "large-scale" with more specific details released to the public. The Israeli military is focusing its efforts on a cemetery in northern Gaza, situated near the demarcation known as the "yellow line," which separates Israeli-controlled areas of the territory.
An anonymous Israeli military official disclosed that Gvili may have been interred in the Shuja'iya-Daraj Tuffah region. Specialised search teams, accompanied by rabbis and dental experts, are actively deployed on the ground to assist in the identification process.
Family and Political Pressures Mount
The family of Ran Gvili has publicly urged the Israeli government to refrain from commencing the second phase of the ceasefire until his remains are successfully repatriated. This demand has become a central obstacle to progressing the US-brokered agreement.
However, external pressure is escalating. The Trump administration has recently declared that the second phase of the ceasefire is already in motion, adding complexity to the diplomatic landscape.
Accusations and Counterclaims
Israel has consistently accused Hamas of delaying the recovery of the final hostage. In a statement released on Sunday, Hamas countered these allegations, asserting that it has provided all available information concerning Gvili's remains. The group further accused Israel of obstructing search efforts in Gaza areas under Israeli military control.
The return of all remaining hostages, whether alive or deceased, was a fundamental component of the initial ceasefire phase, which commenced on 10 October. The preceding hostage was recovered in early December.
UNRWA Headquarters Targeted in East Jerusalem
In a separate but related incident, the shuttered headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem was set ablaze overnight. This event occurred just days after Israeli bulldozers demolished sections of the compound.
The origin of the fire remains undetermined. Roland Friedrich, UNRWA's West Bank director, reported observing Israeli settlers looting furniture from the main building during the night, with holes visibly cut in the perimeter fence.
Israeli fire services dispatched teams to contain the blaze and prevent its spread. This incident follows a similar event in May 2024, when UNRWA announced the closure of its compound after settlers ignited fires along its fence.
UNRWA's Mandate and Controversies
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's commissioner-general, described the latest attack to the Associated Press as part of an "ongoing attempt to dismantle the status of Palestine refugees." The agency is mandated to provide aid and services to approximately 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, with an additional 3 million refugees in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Israel has long criticised UNRWA, alleging infiltration by Hamas and implicating some agency employees in the 2023 attack that precipitated the current two-year conflict in Gaza. In response, UNRWA leadership has stated that swift disciplinary action was taken against accused employees and has denied any allegations of collaboration with Hamas.
Operations were significantly curtailed last year after Israel's Knesset passed legislation severing ties and prohibiting the agency from functioning within what Israel defines as its territory, including East Jerusalem.
