The remains of the last hostage held in Gaza have been identified, the Israeli military said Monday, ending a more than two-year saga for captives' families in Israel — and paving the way for the second phase of the ceasefire in the war-torn enclave.

The Israeli military says the body of Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old special forces policeman killed while fighting Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, has been found.

By Alexander Cornwell JERUSALEM, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Israel has recovered the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of U.

Israel's military says the remains of Ran Gvili, the last person whose body was taken hostage into Gaza, have been recovered.

The Israeli military said on Monday all hostages abducted by Palestinian militant organization Hamas have now been accounted for, after the remains of police officer Ran Gvili were identified and returned to Israel.

Israel says the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, clearing the way for the next phase of the ceasefire that stopped the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel brought home the remains of the last hostage in Gaza on Monday, closing a painful chapter for the country and clearing the way for the next and more challenging phase of its ceasefire with Hamas.

The Tel Aviv-based celebrity fitness trainer was released without an indictment after a year-long investigation.

Israel says its military is conducting a large-scale operation to locate the last hostage in Gaza. This comes as Washington and other mediators pressure Israel and Hamas to move into the next phase of their ceasefire.

Rani Gvili, 24, died during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Israeli military announced Monday that it has recovered the remains of the final deceased hostage in Gaza, marking the first time since 2014 that there are no Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Unpack the latest developments in the Gaza ceasefire and the mounting frustrations of hostage families in a post-war world.