Israel said on Monday it would allow a limited reopening of the Rafah crossing once the remains of Gaza’s last hostage were recovered.
The pledge followed reported pressure from visiting United States envoys urging Israel to reopen the vital gateway for humanitarian aid.
Rafah has stood silent for months, a shuttered artery linking Gaza to Egypt, essential for relief and medical supplies.
Reopening the crossing forms part of a Gaza truce framework announced by President Donald Trump in October.
The crossing has remained closed since Israeli forces took control during the war, halting a critical lifeline for civilians.
The Israeli military said it searched a Gaza cemetery on Sunday for the remains of Ran Gvili.
Gvili was a non-commissioned officer in the elite Yassam police unit, whose fate has haunted the conflict’s final chapter.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said reopening depends on the return of all living hostages and full efforts to recover the dead.
Israel said its forces are conducting a focused operation to exhaust intelligence and locate Gvili’s body.
The government said the Rafah crossing would open after the operation, in line with understandings reached with Washington.
