With final Israeli hostage's body recovered, what are the next steps in Gaza ceasefire?

WBUR | By Here & Now Newsroom

Published January 27, 2026 at 11:59 AM EST

People visit a memorial site where Hamas militants killed Ran Gvili, the last hostage whose remains were recovered from Gaza, in Kibbutz Alumim, Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (Oded Balilty/AP)

Israeli officials say they have recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage in Gaza. The return of his remains to Israel was a contingency by Israel to move on to the second phase of the ceasefire, which can now move forward. This could pave the way for Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing, which separates Egypt and Gaza, allowing people to enter and exit the enclave.

Diana Buttu, human rights lawyer and former legal advisor to Palestinian negotiators, discusses these next steps with Here & Now‘s Scott Tong.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.