* Israel Launches Operation to Find Last Hostage in Gaza
- People hold signs with a photo of Ran Gvili, who was killed while fighting Hamas militants during the Oct.
- NAHARIYA, Israel - Israel said Sunday its military was conducting a "large-scale operation" to locate the last hostage in Gaza, as washington and other mediators pressure Israel and...
- The statement came as Israel's Cabinet met to discuss the possibility of opening Gaza's key Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and a day after top U.S.
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People hold signs with a photo of Ran Gvili, who was killed while fighting Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and whose body has been held in Gaza ever since, during a rally calling for his return in Tel Aviv, Israel, friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
Leo Correa/AP
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Leo Correa/AP
NAHARIYA, Israel – Israel said Sunday its military was conducting a “large-scale operation” to locate the last hostage in Gaza, as washington and other mediators pressure Israel and Hamas to move into the next phase of their ceasefire.
The statement came as Israel’s Cabinet met to discuss the possibility of opening Gaza’s key Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and a day after top U.S. envoys met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about next steps.
The return of the remaining hostage, Ran gvili, has been widely seen as removing the remaining obstacle to moving ahead with opening the rafah crossing and proceeding with the U.S.-brokered ceasefire’s second phase.
Late sunday, Netanyahu’s office in a statement said: ”Upon completion of this operations, and in accordance with what has been agreed upon with the United States, Israel will open the Rafah crossing.” It gave no details on how long that would be, but Israeli military officials were quoted in local media as saying the operation could take days to complete.
The return of all remaining hostages, alive or dead, has been a central part of the first phase of the ceasefire that took effect on Oct.10. Before Sunday, the previous hostage was recovered in early December.
While Israel has carried out search efforts before for gvili, more detail than usual was released about this one. Israel’s military said it was searching a cemetery in northern Gaza near the Yellow Line, which marks off Israeli-controlled parts of the territory.
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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) faces ongoing challenges to its operations, including restrictions imposed by Israel and allegations of ties to Hamas.These issues have intensified following the October 7, 2023 attacks and the subsequent conflict in gaza, leading to funding cuts and operational limitations.
UNRWA: Mandate and Beneficiaries
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 Resolution 194 (III) to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. As of December 2023, UNRWA supports over 5.9 million Palestine refugees. Its services include education,healthcare,social services,microfinance,and emergency assistance.
The agency’s mandate has been repeatedly extended by the UN General Assembly, most recently in December 2023.
Israeli Restrictions on UNRWA Operations
Israel has long criticized UNRWA and imposed restrictions on its operations. In 2023, Israel’s Knesset passed legislation prohibiting the agency from functioning within Israel, including East Jerusalem, effectively severing ties. This legislation aimed to limit the agency’s presence and activities in areas Israel considers under its control.
On January 26, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population in Gaza, which includes facilitating UNRWA’s work. However, as of January 26, 2026, the extent to which Israel is complying with this order remains a subject of ongoing scrutiny and debate.
Allegations of Hamas Affiliation and Funding Suspension
Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas and alleged that some of its employees were involved in the October 7,2023 attacks. Following these allegations, several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and Japan, suspended funding to UNRWA in late January 2024.
UNRWA leaders have stated they took immediate action against the employees accused of involvement in the attacks and have denied allegations of tolerating or collaborating with Hamas. An autonomous review is underway to investigate the allegations. As of January 26, 2026, some countries have begun to reinstate funding based on assurances of reforms and investigations.