Breakthrough: Israel Finds Potential Leads on Burial Site of Last Missing Hostage, Ran Gvili

New Information on Gvili’s Location

Israeli security sources confirmed this evening, Thursday, that they recently acquired potential leads regarding the possible burial location of the last captive and fallen soldier, Ran Gvili. Initial ground checks have begun in the area linked to these new intelligence threads.

Gvili was abducted during the October 7 massacre by terrorists belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The area currently under scrutiny is reportedly connected to PIJ operatives. Israeli assessments suggest that the PIJ terrorists who buried Gvili are still alive, meaning that if Hamas were genuinely motivated to facilitate his return, they could interrogate the PIJ members to extract the precise location of the burial site.

Searches for Gvili had been recently renewed, specifically in the Zeitoun neighborhood in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli sources expressed cautious optimism, stating that they are "optimistic that this will end soon."

Israel Conditions Next Phase on Return

Meanwhile, Israel continues to insist that any progress toward the next phase of the hostage deal and the conclusion of the war will occur only after the successful repatriation of Ran Gvili.

This firm stance was reinforced during a recent Israeli delegation visit to Cairo, led by Gal Hirsch and including top officials from the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad. Following discussions with mediators, it was agreed to focus an intense and immediate effort on fully completing the mission of returning all hostages.

During the Cairo talks, the Israeli team reportedly updated mediators that PIJ has individuals who know Gvili's location, and that Hamas is also privy to this information. The Israeli team also shared intelligence known to them regarding the burial site.

Focus on Demilitarization

Beyond the immediate goal of Gvili’s return, the Cairo talks also addressed the subsequent phase of a potential ceasefire, which is centered on the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and the disarming of the Hamas terrorists.

An Israeli source shared a strong message with a news outlet regarding the future of the Gaza Strip. "The mediators are conveying that Hamas is interested in abiding by the agreement and wants to move to the next phase, which includes disarmament and demilitarization of the Strip," the source said. They added, "It's either they agree, or we will disarm them. We will not leave a threat to the State of Israel in Gaza." The Israeli position remains absolute: a secure outcome must include the full removal of the terrorist threat from the region.