Israel said to believe ‘someone in Islamic Jihad knows’ where Ran Gvili’s body is

Israel has rejected a claim by Palestinian Islamic Jihad that it has returned all the hostages it was holding, with an official reportedly saying the terror group knows the location of the remains of Ran Gvili, the last deceased captive held in Gaza.

On Tuesday, Islamic Jihad, which held a number of the hostages who were kidnapped in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught, said in a statement that it was no longer holding any captives. But Israeli officials shot back, according to Hebrew media, claiming that the terror group has information relating to the location of Gvili’s body. And Gal Hirsch, the government’s point man for hostages, has reportedly shared new intelligence that could point to where the remains are.

Channel 12 reported that Israeli officials said the PIJ statement drove them “out of their minds.”

“We view Islamic Jihad’s statement severely and don’t accept it in any respect,” the network quoted Hisch telling the countries mediating the ceasefire in Gaza. “Someone in Islamic Jihad knows where Ran is held.”

The return of the remains of Gvili, a police master sergeant who was killed on October 7 and whose body was taken to the Strip, is key to the ceasefire advancing to its planned second phase, which is meant to see Gaza move to longer-term security and governance frameworks.

Under the terms of the ceasefire that took effect two months ago, Hamas is meant to return all hostages. Israel says the terror group can do more to locate Gvili’s remains and, according to the Ynet new site, Hirsch has shared aerial photographs meant to help in the search as well as names of officials who may know where the body is.

“We won’t give up until he is returned for a Jewish burial,” Channel 12 quoted Hirsch as saying about Gvili. “Rani’s return isn’t a tactical matter; it is a matter with broad significance in terms of implementing and advancing the agreement.” Ynet reported similar quotes, attributed to an anonymous Israeli official.

The difficulty in securing the return of Gvili’s remains is one of several challenges facing the beginning of the second phase. That phase, according to a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, would see a multinational force take control of Gaza, alongside a technocratic Palestinian committee, as the IDF withdraws and Hamas disarms.

Gaza is now roughly split between Israeli and Hamas, which have both expressed skepticism regarding a move to phase two, as have other countries.

Hamas has thrown cold water on the prospect of laying down its weapons without a pathway to Palestinian statehood. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, meanwhile, staunchly opposes establishing a Palestinian state and has demanded Hamas’s disarmament.

There also appear to be few countries willing to volunteer for the so-called International Stabliziation Force that would oversee security in Gaza as the IDF withdraws. Netanyahu recently voiced skepticism as to whether that force could disarm Hamas, even as he said the first phase of the truce was nearing its end.

The search for Gvili’s body has continued alongside those discussions. Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, who served as the military’s point man on hostage negotiations since the October 7 onslaught, told Ynet this week that the terror group is facing “objective” difficulties locating the remains. But he added that they could be found.

“Nevertheless, we believe that it is possible to bring him back. There is a connection between the pressure applied on Hamas and the results, so we can’t give up,” Alon said.

Searches that reportedly took place on Monday in the Gaza City neighborhood of Zeitoun, in the north of the Strip, failed to find the body. The Hebrew outlet Maariv reported that the search had been paused on Wednesday as heavy rains pounded the region.

In the meantime, Gvili’s parents are pushing for the search teams not to give up.

“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,” his mother, Talik Gvili, told Reuters.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum likewise demanded on Sunday that phase two not commence until Gvili’s body is returned.

“Hamas committed to returning everyone, and the Israeli government and mediators must demand that they fulfill this commitment in full,” the group said in a statement. “We cannot move forward without the Gvili family receiving closure – without Ran coming back to us.”

Asked about the possibility that Israel might proceed with talks on Gaza before Gvili is returned, his mother said: “No way. We won’t let that happen.”

Asked on Tuesday by Channel 12 if he believed Islamic Jihad’s statement, Gvili’s father Itzik responded, “No.”