Israel recovers final Gaza hostage remains, key for phase two of ceasefire

Israel says the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, clearing the way for the next phase of the ceasefire that paused the Israel-Gaza war.Monday’s announcement came a day after Israel’s government said the military was conducting a “large-scale operation” in a cemetery in northern Gaza to locate the remains of Ran Gvili.The return of all remaining hostages, living or dead, has been a key part of the Gaza ceasefire’s first phase, and Gvili’s family had urged Israel’s government not to enter the second phase until his remains were recovered and returned.Israel and Hamas have been under pressure from ceasefire mediators including Washington to move into the second phase of the US-brokered truce, which took effect on October 10.Israel had repeatedly accused Hamas of dragging its feet in the recovery of the final hostage. Hamas had said it had provided all the information it had about Gvili’s remains, and accused Israel of obstructing efforts to search for them in areas of Gaza under Israeli military control.Israel’s military had said the large-scale operation to locate Gvili’s remains was “in the area of the Yellow Line” that divides the territory.