Hamas fighters on Jan. 7 during search operations for Ran Gvili. Photo: Hamza Z. H. Qraiqea/Anadolu via Getty Images
Published January 27, 2025
President Donald Trump marked a significant milestone Monday in his administration’s Gaza peace initiative: the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. With that chapter complete, Trump said it is time to move forward with the next and most challenging phase — the disarmament of Hamas.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had located, recovered, and positively identified the body of Sergeant 1st Class Ran Gvili, the final Israeli captive whose remains had been held in the Gaza Strip under the terms of the October ceasefire agreement. His recovery effectively closes out the hostage return track under the first phase of the peace deal.
In a Truth Social post celebrating the outcome, Trump wrote:
“Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA. Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead! AMAZING JOB! Most thought of it as an impossible thing to do.”
Trump also said in interviews with Axios and Israeli television that Hamas played a role in locating Gvili’s remains, describing the process as “very hard” due to the extensive search and identification work amid widespread destruction.
With the final recovery completed, Trump declared that the next step must be disarming Hamas, a key component of the broader framework his administration has been promoting. “Now we need to disarm Hamas, as they promised,” he said, emphasizing that skeptics who doubted the return of every hostage might be proven wrong again.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 26, 2026
“Nobody believed we would bring back all the hostages. It was a great moment,” Trump said, adding that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner briefed him Monday morning before he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who Trump said “was thrilled.”
It all started with President Trump’s message to Hamas – “There will be hell to pay!”
Now ALL hostages – alive & deceased – are back with their families. https://t.co/2sV18UZskN
— Ambassador Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) January 26, 2026
Reactions and Next Steps
Israeli leaders warmly welcomed the news. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the effort and underscored the symbolic moment of closure. He told the Knesset that there are no more hostages in Gaza and ceremonially removed a yellow hostage pin he had worn, indicating the end of that painful era. Netanyahu echoed Trump’s call that the next stage must focus on disarmament and the demilitarization of Gaza before reconstruction efforts can begin.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the return as a pivotal moment for the nation, while officials framed the completion of the first phase as clearing “the table” for more difficult negotiations ahead.
Disarmament Commitments and Skepticism
Trump and his team — including special envoys like Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner — have tied the prospect of rebuilding Gaza to verified Hamas demilitarization, reinforcing that security guarantees must precede economic initiatives. Critics, however, remain skeptical about whether Hamas will follow through on truly giving up its weapons and organizational capabilities.
This development adds a new dimension to ongoing diplomatic efforts, as the U.S. and Israeli governments prepare to engage in negotiations aimed at reducing the risk of future conflict and securing a long-term peace in the region.
Implications
of the Return of the Final Israeli Hostage and Trump’s Call to Disarm Hamas
1. Closure of the Hostage Phase
The return of the final Israeli hostage’s remains marks the formal end of the hostage crisis stemming from the Gaza conflict. Politically and emotionally, this removes one of the most powerful bargaining tools Hamas held and gives Israel and its allies moral and diplomatic closure on that chapter.
2. Shift From Negotiation to Enforcement
Trump’s declaration — “Now we have to disarm Hamas” — signals a transition from negotiation to accountability. With hostages no longer an issue, future talks will focus less on humanitarian leverage and more on security guarantees and enforcement mechanisms.
3. Hamas Loses Strategic Leverage
By assisting in locating the final remains, Hamas may have sought goodwill or legitimacy. However, the move also undercuts its own leverage, as it can no longer use hostages as bargaining chips to delay or resist disarmament demands.
4. Increased Pressure for Demilitarization
Trump’s remarks reinforce international pressure to tie Gaza’s reconstruction and aid to Hamas disarmament. This sets a precedent that armed groups cannot expect long-term political or economic concessions without relinquishing weapons.
5. Strengthening U.S.–Israel Alignment
The event strengthens the perception of tight coordination between Washington and Jerusalem, especially on security outcomes. Trump’s public praise positions the U.S. as a decisive broker rather than a passive mediator.
6. Higher Risk of Renewed Conflict
If Hamas refuses to disarm, Trump’s statement raises the likelihood of renewed military action or intensified sanctions, as the justification for restraint diminishes now that hostages are no longer at risk.
7. Message to Other Militant Groups
The situation sends a broader regional message: hostage-taking does not guarantee long-term leverage. Even cooperation at the end does not absolve militant groups from eventual disarmament demands.
8. Political Capital for Trump
Domestically and internationally, Trump’s ability to claim the return of all hostages — living and deceased — bolsters his image as a leader who delivers results first, then applies pressure, strengthening his negotiating position in future conflicts.
Overall Takeaway:
The return of the final Israeli hostage’s remains closes one of the most painful chapters of the Gaza conflict, offering long-overdue closure to families and to Israel as a nation. President Trump’s declaration that it is now time to disarm Hamas signals a decisive shift in focus—from recovery and negotiation to long-term security and accountability. With hostages no longer at risk, the international community faces a defining test: whether promises of peace will be backed by concrete action. The coming phase will determine whether Gaza moves toward stability and reconstruction, or remains trapped in cycles of violence driven by armed groups unwilling to lay down their weapons.
SOURCES: BREITBART – Trump Hails Return of Final Israeli Hostage’s Remains from Gaza, Declares ‘Now We Have to Disarm Hamas’
ANADOLU AJANSI – Trump hails return of final captive remains from Gaza
AXIOS – Trump says Hamas helped find last hostage, now must disarm
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