On Sunday, Israel announced that its military is engaged in a “large-scale operation” aimed at locating the last remaining hostage in Gaza. This development comes amidst increasing pressure from Washington and other mediators urging both Israel and Hamas to transition into the next phase of their ongoing ceasefire. The announcement coincided with a meeting of Israel’s cabinet, which discussed the potential reopening of the crucial Rafah border crossing with Egypt. This meeting followed discussions between top US envoys and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the next steps in the situation.
The urgency surrounding the return of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, is perceived as the final hurdle to opening the Rafah crossing and initiating the second phase of the ceasefire brokered by the United States. In a statement released late Sunday, Netanyahu’s office indicated that the search operation for Gvili would conclude once all avenues have been exhausted, paving the way for the opening of the Rafah crossing in accordance with agreements made with the United States.
The recovery of all remaining hostages, whether alive or deceased, has been a pivotal element of the first phase of the ceasefire, which began on October 10. The last hostage was recovered in early December, and while Israel has previously conducted searches for Gvili, this latest operation has seen more detailed information disclosed. The Israeli military has focused its search efforts on a cemetery in northern Gaza, near the so-called “yellow line,” which delineates Israeli-controlled areas.
According to an Israeli military official, there is speculation that Gvili might have been buried in the Shuja’iya-Daraj Tuffah area. The search operation has included the involvement of rabbis and dental experts, who are working alongside specialized teams. The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the operation, noted that Gvili’s family is urging the Israeli government not to proceed to the second phase of the ceasefire until his remains are recovered.
As pressure mounts, the Trump administration has recently declared that the second phase of the ceasefire is already underway. Israel has consistently accused Hamas of delaying the recovery of the final hostage. Conversely, Hamas released a statement claiming that they had provided all available information regarding Gvili's remains and accused Israel of hindering search efforts in areas of Gaza under its military control.
In a separate incident, the shuttered headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem was ignited overnight, following recent demolition activities by Israeli bulldozers on the compound. The identity of those responsible for the fire remains unknown, though reports indicate that Israeli settlers were seen looting the main building for furniture. Roland Friedrich, the agency’s West Bank director, noted that holes had been cut in the fence surrounding the compound. Israel’s fire department responded by deploying teams to prevent the blaze from spreading.
Earlier in May 2024, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced the closure of its compound after settlers had previously set fires to its perimeter. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the incident as the “latest attack on the UN” amid ongoing efforts to dismantle the status of Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA’s mandate encompasses providing aid and services to approximately 2.5 million Palestinian refugees located in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, in addition to 3 million more refugees in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. However, its operations faced significant limitations last year when Israel’s Knesset enacted legislation that severed ties and prohibited the agency from functioning within areas it defines as Israel, including East Jerusalem.
Israel has long criticized UNRWA, accusing it of being infiltrated by Hamas and alleging that some of its employees were involved in the 2023 attack that sparked Israel’s prolonged conflict in Gaza. UNRWA leaders have asserted that they took swift action against any employees implicated in the attack and have denied claims of tolerating or collaborating with Hamas.