2 weeks ago
4
THE recovery of the remains of Hamas’ final hostage concludes the first phase of the US peace plan, clearing the way to rebuild Gaza.
Phase Two of the ceasefire will focus on the “demilitarisation, technocratic governance, and reconstruction” of the war-ravaged Strip – but these are thorny issues.
Sign up for The Sun newsletter
Thank you!
Transitioning to a new governance structure and disarming Hamas – which the militant group has previously refused to do without the creation of an independent Palestinian state – will be the major hurdles in the months to come.
As the body of Ran Gvili is being transported back to Israel, Palestinians are hopeful that it could pave the way for a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing with Egypt.
This is Gaza’s gateway to the outside world, and the Palestinian committee of technocrats, backed by the US to govern Gaza, has confirmed that the border crossing would open this week.
But a government spokesperson had no immediate comment when asked if that was the case, and Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that journalists will remain banned from the Strip.
In response to Gvili’s body being returned, Donald Trump said on Monday: “Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA.
“Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead! AMAZING JOB!”
The US president also said that “most thought of it as an impossible thing to do”, and congratulated his “great team of Champions”.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the return of the last hostage showed the Palestinian Islamist movement’s commitment to future peace.
“The discovery of the body of the last Israeli prisoner in Gaza confirms Hamas’s commitment to all the requirements of the ceasefire agreement on the Gaza Strip, including the prisoner exchange process and its complete closure as stipulated in the agreement,” he said in a statement.
Israel’s military confirmed it discovered the remains of a slain police officer in a cemetery 843 days after he was first taken captive.
Brave Ran, a Sergeant First Class in the Israeli Police Special Forces, was 24 years old when he was first captured by terrorists alongside 250 other hostages.
Gvili was taken hostage and later died after heroically defending Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel despite being off work at the time with a broken shoulder due to a motorbike crash.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the discovery in eastern Gaza City “an extraordinary achievement for Israel”.
He added: “We promised, and I promised, to bring everyone back, and we brought everyone back.
“Ran is a hero of Israel. He went in first, he came out last. He came back.”
All of the living and murdered hostages taken in 2023 have now been freed or returned to their loved ones.
Hamas thugs had managed to locate every slain captive other than Ran after they claimed to have lost track of where the bodies were due to the rubble in Gaza.
Israel’s military launched their own search mission on Sunday to try and locate Ran as they focused their efforts on the cemetery.
An Israeli military official revealed there were “several intelligence leads” which pointed towards Ran’s body being in the cemetery.
Ran’s heartbroken family have been informed and will receive his remains shortly.
Trump had vowed earlier this month to do “everything we can” to secure the release of Ran.
Trump's 20-point peace plan
- 1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone
- 2. Gaza will be redeveloped
- 3. The war will immediately end
- 4. Within 72 hours, all hostages will be returned
- 5. Israel will release 250 dangerous prisoners plus 1700 Gazans detained after Oct 7th
- 6. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage
- 7. Full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip
- 8. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference
- 9. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee
- 10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created
- 11. A special economic zone will be established
- 12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza
- 13. Hamas agrees to not have any role in the governance of Gaza
- 14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas comply with obligations
- 15. The US will work to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza
- 16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza
- 17. If Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, Israel can proceed with invasion
- 18. An interfaith dialogue process will be established
- 19. Credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood can begin
- 20. The US will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians for peaceful and prosperous co-existence
Securing the final hostage is now set to help facilitate phase two of his Gaza peace plan.
The Gvili family had urged Israel’s government not to enter this new phase until his remains were recovered.
Phase two consists of the reconstruction of Gaza while also marking the full demilitarisation and disarmament of Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office has already announced that Israel will open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt once the search for Ran is over.
An announcement confirming its reopening is set to come soon.
What happened on October 7?
ON October 7 2023, militants of Hamas and other Palestinian nationalist groups launched co-ordinated armed attacks in the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel.
The perpetrators had managed to bypass Israeli defences to para-glide across the border, in what became the first invasion of the territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
The horror coincided with the Jewish celebration of Simchat Torah, and initiated the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.
A barrage of around 4,300 rockets were launched on Israel from the Gaza Strip in the early hours of October 7 before vehicles and powered paragliders crossed the border.
Hamas fighters attacked military bases and massacred civilians in 21 communities, including Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim.
The first civilian attack started at 6.29am at the Nova Music Festival site at Re’im, just three miles from Gaza.
More than 360 revellers were cut down as they desperately tried to flee.
Across October 7, an estimated 1,139 people were massacred and another 251 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage into Gaza.
Issues are still yet to be ironed out in regards to Hamas with the terror group vowing to hold on to many of its weapons despite being told it must disarm.
US envoy Steve Witkoff warned last week: “The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations.
“Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”
Last week, US President Donald Trump unveiled a jaw-dropping Gaza “master plan” at the signing ceremony for his new Board of Peace.
His son in law Jared Kushner revealed mock-ups of giant skyscrapers and a map setting out phases of Gaza’s transformation.
Dubbed “Project Sunrise”, the plan to rebuild war-torn Gaza was leaked last month.
The US wants to make it an international destination featuring swanky hotels and beach resorts, high-speed rail and AI-optimised smart grid features.
English (US) · 