Israel says the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, clearing the way for the next phase of the ceasefire that stopped the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel's military says the remains of Ran Gvili, the last person whose body was taken hostage into Gaza, have been recovered.

Israel’s military had said the large-scale operation to locate the hostage's remains was “in the area of the Yellow Line” that divides the territory.

The crossing has been under a near complete closure since Israel seized it in May 2024, saying the step was part of a strategy to halt cross-border arms smuggling by Hamas. It was briefly opened for the evacuation of medical patients during a short-lived ceasefire in early 2025.

Israel will reopen the Rafah Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for pedestrian traffic in both directions on Sunday, according to the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit.

The remarks came shortly after the IDF located the remains of slain hostage St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, in northern Gaza.

Israel released 15 bodies of Palestinians killed during its war in Gaza, three days after the remains of the last Israeli hostage was returned.