JERUSALEM/GAZA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military has launched a new operation in the northern Gaza Strip to locate the remains of the last hostage, Israeli officials said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement the military has been conducting "a large-scale operation" to locate the body of Ran Gvili, a police officer who was killed and whose body was abducted to Gaza during the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The operation, which began over the weekend, is taking place at a cemetery in the northern Gaza Strip and involves extensive search activities, making "full use of all available intelligence," the office said, adding that the effort would continue "for as long as necessary."
Meanwhile, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said that Al-Qassam had provided mediators with all available details and information concerning Gvili's location.
In a press statement, Abu Obeida, Al-Qassam's spokesperson, said that Israel's ongoing search in one of the reported locations was evidence of the credibility of Al-Qassam's information, which had been conveyed to mediators earlier.
He also said that Al-Qassam had handed over all living prisoners and remains in its possession without delay, despite what it described as Israel's failure to comply with the ceasefire agreement and its continued violations. ■
