Israel Presses Mediators After Islamic Jihad Claims It Returned All Hostages: "They Know Where Ran Is"

Israel has delivered new intelligence to mediators in Cairo after firmly rejecting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s claim that it has already returned all hostages in its possession. According to Ynet, POW and Missing Persons Coordinator Gal Hirsch transferred aerial photos, names, and additional information that may help locate the remains of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage still unreturned.

A senior Israeli official said the message was unequivocal: “There are people in Islamic Jihad who know where Ran is. A strong message was delivered. We will not relent until Ran is buried in Israel.”

Israel views the dispute as central to the implementation of the ceasefire deal, not a procedural disagreement. “The issue of Ran’s return is not a tactical matter,” the official said. “The Islamic Jihad’s claim is false. Hamas is obligated to return all the fallen, and responsibility lies with them.”

PIJ stated Tuesday that it had “closed the file” on Israeli hostages, asserting that it handed over the final remains on December 2, when the body of Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak was transferred. Israeli officials dismissed the claim immediately and continued search operations inside Gaza. Red Cross personnel and Hamas operatives were seen conducting renewed searches in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood, but no breakthrough has been reported.

Hirsch’s message to the mediators stressed that “Islamic Jihad’s statement is unacceptable to us. There are those who know where Ran is. We will not let this go.” He added that Ran’s return is a binding element of the agreement, and that the next phase cannot proceed without it.

The United States is applying pressure of its own. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said Tuesday he hopes to see movement “within 24 to 48 hours,” signaling Washington’s expectation that mediators produce concrete results. American officials believe progress is possible in the coming days.

The Gvili family has also warned that no political or diplomatic steps should advance without closure. “We won’t let them move to the next stage until Ran comes home, as promised,” his brother Omri said earlier this week.

Israeli officials continue to insist that PIJ’s claims are untrue, that Hamas bears full responsibility under the agreement, and that the return of Ran Gvili remains non-negotiable as the ceasefire process moves forward.