Breaking Update
Smotrich: No Gaza Withdrawal Until Last Hostage Body Returned
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared no further Gaza withdrawal until Sgt. Ran Gvili's body is returned, linking it to Hamas's destruction.
Jerusalem, 29 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Finance Minister and the leader of the right-wing Religious Zionism Party in the Knesset, Bezalel Smotrich, declared on Monday that he sees no way that Israel can move forward to the next stage of the Gaza ceasefire plan as long as the body of Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, who was killed during the October 7 massacre. His body is the last one of an October 78 yet to be returned to Israel from Gaza.
“The State of Israel will not be able to move to the next stage, neither politically nor security-wise, as long as the body of Sgt. Ran Gvili, may God avenge his blood, has not been returned to an Israeli grave, and as long as the terrorist organization Hamas continues to exist, to arm itself, and to dream of our destruction,” said Smotrich.
The Israeli military currently controls 53% of Gaza’s territory. This came as part of the first stage of the ceasefire. The next stage would require a further withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, should it be implemented.
