Israel Ties Rafah Crossing Reopening to Recovery of Last Hostage's Remains

On January 25, 2026, Israel launched a major operation in Gaza to locate and recover the remains of its last hostage, Ran Gvili. This effort is tied to ongoing ceasefire talks and the potential reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which Israel has stated will remain closed until Gvili's remains are recovered.

During this period, a fire broke out at the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem following recent demolitions. The situation involves multiple actors including Israel, Hamas, and international entities engaged in negotiations and recovery efforts.