Israel launches search for last Gaza hostage

Israel says its military has begun a large-scale operation to locate the last remaining Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Rafah crossing with Egypt will be opened once the search is exhausted under an agreement with the United States.

Israel's military announced a large-scale operation on Sunday to locate the last remaining Israeli hostage in Gaza, a development that has taken on diplomatic weight as mediators press both sides to move to the next phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The government's decision is linked to talks about reopening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the crossing will open after the search is exhausted and in line with the U.S. agreement. Washington and other mediators have been pushing for progress toward the ceasefire's second phase. Known developments: - Israel says its forces have launched a large-scale operation to locate the last remaining Israeli hostage, identified as Ran Gvili. - Netanyahu's office announced that Rafah crossing with Egypt will be opened once the search operation is exhausted and in accordance with the U.S. agreement. - U.S. officials and other mediators have urged movement into the ceasefire's second phase, and Washington has said the plan has moved into that phase. - Hamas stated it had provided all available information about the remains and accused Israel of obstructing search efforts in some areas. Summary: The immediate impact centers on a search operation whose outcome is tied to opening the Rafah crossing and advancing the ceasefire arrangement. The next procedural step, as stated by Israel, is to open the Rafah crossing after the search is completed and in line with the agreement with the United States; the timing of that step is undetermined at this time.