Israeli forces searched a cemetery in northern Gaza on Sunday for the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage still being held in the Palestinian territory after Hamas attacks in October 2013, the prime minister's office said.

“The operation is taking place at a cemetery in northern Gaza and involves extensive efforts by The search, making the most of all available intelligence, was announced by Benjamin Netanyahu's office, which added that the efforts would continue "as long as necessary." For its part, the Islamist movement Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and several countries, confirmed the searches and added that it had given mediators the information it possessed about the location where "the captive's remains could be found." Gvili was an officer in the elite Israeli police unit, Yasam, and was 24 years old on the day Hamas launched the attack on Israeli territory that sparked the war in Gaza. An Israeli military official told AFP that there were indications that Gvili "may have been buried in the area" where the searches were being conducted. Intelligence information about the location of the grave "has been in our possession for some time and has been recently refined," the Israeli official added. "Specialized units are on the ground, including Rabbis, search teams, and dental experts,” he added.

The first phase of the US-backed ceasefire agreement stipulated that Hamas would hand over all hostages taken in Gaza in the 2023 attack that triggered the war.

Gvili's family opposes second phase of agreement

Of the 251 people taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 attack, all—some alive and some dead—were returned to Israel, except for Gvili's remains.

More than 1,200 people died in that unprecedented Hamas assault on Israeli territory.

In Gaza, more than 70,000 people have died since the Israeli offensive began in response to the attack.

According to a tally by local authorities in this Hamas-governed territory.

Gvili's family had expressed strong opposition to launching the second phase of the plan, which includes reopening the Rafah crossing, before receiving the remains.

“First, Ran must return home,” the family stated in a press release issued on Sunday.

“The State of Israel cannot proceed with opening the Rafah crossing while Hamas continues to deceive the world,” the family added.

Meanwhile, the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, which connects Gaza with Egypt, was discussed at a meeting on Saturday between Netanyahu and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to Israeli media reports.