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 US envoys met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about next steps.

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…

Netanyahu says it will open Rafah crossing and begin second phase of ceasefire after search ends

The Israeli military has launched an operation in northern Gaza to retrieve the body of the last remaining hostage in the Palestinian enclave.

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

Recovery of remains clears way for next phase of October ceasefire deal.

Palestinians say they hope the recovery will lead to Israel opening the Rafah crossing, which would allow people and aid to travel to and from Gaza.

JERUSALEM: Israel has retrieved the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of US…