ynet has learned that Hostages and Missing Persons Coordinator Gal Hirsch transferred aerial imagery, names of individuals believed to have knowledge of Gvili’s whereabouts and other intelligence aimed at aiding his recovery.
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Sgt. First Class Ran Gvili; Hamas teams searching for bodies of hostages in Gaza
( Photo: REUTERS/Stringer, Israel Police)
The move follows a statement Tuesday by PIJ’s military wing, claiming that the group had “closed the issue” of Israeli hostages after transferring the last body, of Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, last Wednesday in northern Gaza.
Israeli officials rejected the claim, with one senior source telling ynet: “There are people within Islamic Jihad who know where Ran is. We sent a strong message to a senior mediator, and conveyed detailed intelligence during Gal Hirsch’s meetings in Cairo last Thursday. We will not rest until Ran is brought back for burial in Israel.”
“This is not a tactical issue,” the official continued. “It is central to the implementation of the agreement. PIJ’s claim is a lie, and we reject it outright. Hamas is responsible for the return of all fallen hostages, and we will not compromise on that.”
Despite PIJ’s statement, searches for Gvili resumed Tuesday in Gaza City’s eastern Zeitoun neighborhood, led by Hamas operatives and monitored by the Red Cross. Gvili remains unaccounted for.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Tuesday he hopes Gvili’s remains will be recovered within the next 24 to 48 hours. “I believe we will see results very soon,” he said at a book launch event at the National Library in Jerusalem.