Overview
- Hamas’s Qassam Brigades restarted searches on Jan. 7 in Gaza City’s Zeitun with Red Cross teams after a two‑week weather halt, seeking the remains of police officer Ran Gvili, the only one of the 251 Oct. 7 captives still in Gaza.
- Operations are taking place near the “yellow line” under close Israeli military oversight, according to reports, following earlier leads that pointed mediators to the Zeitun area.
- Israel has conditioned talks on phase two of the October ceasefire and a reopening of the Rafah crossing on the handover of Gvili’s body, a stance echoed by his parents and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
- The IDF recorded 14 ceasefire violations from Dec. 19 to Jan. 8 and 78 since Oct. 10, while Gaza’s Health Ministry reports at least 424 Palestinians killed in the nearly three months since the truce took effect.
- A relative in Jabaliya said Israeli gunfire killed an 11‑year‑old girl on Jan. 8 as troops operated nearby; the military did not immediately comment and has said recent actions respond to ceasefire violations.