The Islamic Jihad Snatch: How a Secret Shin Bet Kidnapping Cracked the Gvili Case

The successful recovery of Ran Gvili’s remains during Operation Brave Heart was the direct result of a daring and clandestine kidnapping operation carried out by the Shin Bet in the heart of Gaza City. While previous intelligence had led the IDF to search tunnels and hospitals, it was the capture of a specific Islamic Jihad operative that finally pinpointed the exact burial site in the Al-Batsh cemetery. This terrorist, who was directly involved in moving Gvili’s body between multiple locations to evade detection, broke under interrogation and provided the coordinates that allowed Israeli special forces to navigate a complex mass grave. The breakthrough highlights the fusion of high-level intelligence and forensic expertise, as over twenty dental specialists worked under intense pressure to confirm the identity of the final fallen hostage before seasonal rains could destroy the site.

The Interrogation that Changed Everything

The turning point in the search occurred approximately one month ago when Shin Bet agents conducted a targeted snatch operation in southern Gaza City. They apprehended a Palestinian Islamic Jihad activist who had been active in the war against IDF forces. Intelligence suggested this individual possessed intimate knowledge of the regime’s handling of Israeli remains. During his interrogation, the operative admitted to his role in the logistical nightmare of hiding Gvili, describing how the body was shifted between various hideouts to prevent Israeli recovery teams from locating it.

Crucially, the terrorist pointed to a network of other individuals who were also aware of the burial sites, providing the Shin Bet with a broader map of the regime’s concealment tactics. This new stream of intelligence shifted the military’s focus away from a tunnel complex near the cemetery, which Yahalom teams had recently cleared and found empty. The operative’s testimony confirmed that Gvili had been placed in the Al-Batsh cemetery in Shuja'iyya, located in an area where the IDF maintained high operational control but had yet to excavate.

Forensic Victory in a Race Against Time

Once the location was verified, the IDF moved with unprecedented speed. The mission was complicated by a looming weather front, as heavy rains were expected to flood the excavation area and potentially displace remains within the mass grave. Under the command of Brigadier General Yehuda Vach, unit 6017, the medical identification and cause of death research unit, was deployed alongside the Military Rabbinate. This specialized team included twenty dentists, both reserve and regular service, who were tasked with an exhausting 24-hour search through roughly 250 bodies recovered from the site.

The scene at the cemetery was one of grim necessity. The terrorists had buried Gvili among 170 other bodies in a mass grave, attempting to hide a single Israeli hero among a sea of casualties. The forensic team utilized mobile X-ray machines and DNA sampling kits to cross-reference every set of remains. The final confirmation was made with absolute certainty through dental records, allowing the Shin Bet to declare a "meaningful and moral closing of the circle." The return of Gvili’s body, facilitated by the confession of the very man who helped hide him, ensures that the final fallen soldier from the October 7 massacre will receive a proper burial in Israeli soil.