Overview
- Jerusalem says multiple recent leads, described as credible but unverified, indicate a burial site in Zeitoun for Ran Gvili, the last unrecovered hostage.
- Israel provided mediators with aerial photos and names of Islamic Jihad figures it alleges know the location, insisting the case is a nonnegotiable condition for any next phase.
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad says it “closed the file” after handing over final remains on Dec. 2, a claim Israel rejects while maintaining Hamas is obligated to return all fallen.
- Search efforts by Hamas and Islamic Jihad paused midweek due to severe weather from Storm Byron and were expected to resume Friday, according to Israeli reports.
- U.S. officials and mediators are pressing for progress, and Israel says border openings, construction materials, and postwar governance talks will not advance until Gvili is returned.