Collected photoGAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Jan 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Hamas officials told AFP that search operations for the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza resumed on Wednesday after a two-week pause due to bad weather. Israel has previously said it is awaiting the return of Ran Gvili's body before beginning talks on the second phase of the fragile ceasefire agreement with Hamas which came into effect in October. A Hamas official told AFP that the Palestinian Islamist movement's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, "accompanied by Red Cross teams, are resuming today search operations for the body of the last Israeli captive in the Zeitun neighbourhood in southeastern Gaza City." Another official said that search operations had been suspended over the past two weeks due to stormy weather and heavy rain, which had prevented excavators and other machinery from reaching Zeitun. The Israeli group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza said in a statement that it welcomed "the pressure that led to the operational decision to resume search efforts" for Gvili's body.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 07, 2026 15:39 UTC