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Israel to Reopen Gaza Border Crossing as Last Hostage's Remains Are Found
(Wall Street Journal) Anat Peled - Israel recovered the body of Ran Gvili, 24, an Israeli police sergeant who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and whose body was taken to Gaza during the Hamas-led attack. Israel announced on Sunday that it would reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, once Gvili's body was returned to Israel for burial. Israel said the border crossing would remain under Israeli oversight, with Palestinians undergoing security screenings to leave and enter. The return of Gvili's body and the opening of the Rafah crossing were crucial requirements of the first phase of the U.S-crafted peace plan. The plan can now move to its next phase, which requires the disarmament of Hamas. At times, Israeli officials thought Gvili's remains might never be found. They were moved several times by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the group holding him, an Israeli official said. As part of the efforts to locate them, the Israel Security Agency said it captured an Islamic Jihad militant in a raid last month and interrogated him, leading to intelligence that prompted the discovery of Gvili's remains.