ByAMICHAI STEIN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Updated:

Hamas began its search for the remains of slain hostage Ran Gvili in Gaza City on Sunday afternoon.

Last week, during meetings in Cairo, the IDF Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch told mediators in a “clear and unequivocal” way that Gvili’s remains are to be returned to Israel as soon as possible.

Further, N12 News reported on Friday that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad know how to find Gvili’s body to return it to Israel.

The report also noted that the talks in Cairo dealt with transitioning to the second phase of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire deal.

A woman holds a picture of dead hostage Ran Gvili, whose body hasn't been returned yet, as Israelis attend a rally calling for the immediate return of the remains of all hostages held in Gaza, more than two years after the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, at Hostages Square.
A woman holds a picture of dead hostage Ran Gvili, whose body hasn't been returned yet, as Israelis attend a rally calling for the immediate return of the remains of all hostages held in Gaza, more than two years after the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, at Hostages Square. (credit: REUTERS/NIR ELIAS)

Israel pushes Hamas to return Gvili's body, move to phase II of ceasefire

"The mediators are saying that Hamas is showing interest in upholding the hostage deal, and wants to move to the next phase, which includes disarmament and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip," the Friday N12 report cited an Israeli source as saying.

The source told the outlet that "it's either they agree to disarm, or we will disarm them. We will not leave any threat to the State of Israel in Gaza."

Gvili’s sister, Shira, called on Israel to stop moving to phase II of the ceasefire deal until her brother was returned to Israel.

"This is the first Shabbat that Rani has remained alone there," she said. "Compel Hamas to return Rani to the country he loved so much. Continue to stand with us, think of my Rani. Two hundred and fifty-four hostages have been returned from Gaza, and our Rani is still there."