GAZA CITY — Search teams from Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross have concluded an operation in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood, failing to locate the remains of the last Israeli hostage believed to be held in the territory.
The operation, which concluded on Monday, December 8, 2025, was focused on finding the body of Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili. Gvili, a 24-year-old officer from Meitar, was among the 251 people abducted by Hamas during its attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli authorities believe he was badly wounded and did not survive long after being taken to Gaza.
Video footage from the scene showed armed Hamas militants standing guard beside ICRC vehicles before a convoy drove into the neighborhood to conduct the search. This coordinated effort was part of the broader arrangements tied to the current U.S.-brokered ceasefire and ongoing hostage negotiations. The teams reportedly combed through multiple sites in the designated zone but found no evidence that could confirm the location of his body, leading to the end of the operation in Zeitoun.
A Painful Stalemate for a Nation and a Family
The unsuccessful conclusion of the search marks a painful setback for Israel and, most profoundly, for Gvili’s family. His mother, Talik Gvili, has become a public voice for the families of the missing, insisting that Israel cannot move forward without her son’s return.
"We're at the last stretch and we have to be strong, for Rani, for us, and for Israel. Without Rani, our country can't heal," she told Reuters. She has stated unequivocally that talks on the next phase of the Gaza peace plan should not proceed until he is brought back.
The family’s grief is compounded by uncertainty. While accepting the official assessment of his death, Talik Gvili admitted to clinging to "some tiny doubt," acknowledging it might be "wishful thinking". She described her son as a strong and kind-hearted person who always looked out for others. "But that was his thing, to make sure everyone else was okay first," she said, reflecting on the cruel fate that he is now the last one awaiting return.
Broader Context: Ceasefire and Stalled Diplomacy
The search for Gvili’s remains is not occurring in isolation but is deeply enmeshed in the fragile ceasefire and complex diplomatic negotiations.
* A Key Condition: Under the terms of the October 2025 ceasefire, Hamas agreed to release all remaining hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners, along with the bodies of 360 deceased Palestinians. At the time of the deal, 48 hostages remained in Gaza, with 28 believed dead. All others have now been returned, leaving Gvili as the sole unaccounted-for individual.
* A Block to Progress: The ceasefire agreement is designed to move into a next phase addressing Gaza's future governance and reconstruction. However, both Gvili's family and Israeli officials have signaled that progress is contingent on his return. Israel had previously stated it would open the vital Rafah crossing for entry into Gaza once the last deceased hostage was returned.
* Parallel Tensions: The hostage issue unfolds alongside other significant events, including a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 29 to discuss the Gaza plan. On the same day as the search concluded, Israeli police raided a United Nations compound in East Jerusalem, escalating tensions with international aid agencies.
The Search's End and an Uncertain Path Forward
With the formal search in Zeitoun now ended, the path to recovering Ran Gvili’s remains is unclear. The failure to locate him deepens the anguish of his family and presents a tangible obstacle to the already fragile diplomatic process. The outcome underscores the devastating human toll that persists even amid a nominal truce, leaving a nation waiting for one last soldier to come home.
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