808 days
Israel: Hamas is Delaying Release of Ran Gvili
Israeli officials say they gave Hamas a list of leaders who know where Ran Gvili is buried. Despite this and other information given to Hamas and negotiators, Ran remains the last hostage in Gaza.
Israeli security officials say Hamas is deliberately failing to act on information provided by Israel that could lead to the recovery of the remains of Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, despite having the means to do so.
According to senior officials, Israel recently transferred to Hamas the names of several Islamic Jihad terrorists believed to know the location of Gvili’s burial site. Israeli assessments indicate that Hamas is aware of which individuals hold the information but has chosen not to interrogate them, a move officials describe as intentional foot-dragging.
Army Radio reported that Israel delivered a clear message to Hamas that questioning those terrorists could enable the precise identification of the burial location. Nevertheless, Hamas has so far refrained from taking any meaningful steps, despite ongoing discussions related to the return of hostages and remains.
During the fighting in Gaza, Israel deliberately avoided eliminating the small group of terrorists believed to possess the information, out of concern that killing them would permanently erase the chance of recovering Gvili’s body. Security officials say this restraint was a calculated decision aimed at preserving any opportunity for his return.
The approach mirrors Israel’s past policy in similar cases, including the decision not to target terrorists known to have information about the whereabouts of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed in action in 2014 and whose remains were taken to Gaza.
Current intelligence assessments indicate that Gvili is buried in eastern Gaza City, most likely in the Shejaiya or Zeitoun neighborhoods. Officials emphasize that the information exists within Gaza and that Hamas has the capacity to obtain it if it chooses to act.
Sources familiar with the matter said that Israel remains cautiously optimistic, despite growing frustration. “There are people in Gaza who know more than we do,” one official said. “The question is whether Hamas decides to allow this issue to be resolved.”
Under the terms of existing understandings between Israel and Hamas, progress to subsequent stages of any agreement is contingent on the return of all kidnapped victims, including the remains of those killed. Israeli officials say Hamas’s continued inaction on the Gvili case is further evidence of its unwillingness to meet those obligations.