January 26, 2026
After more than two years of war following Hamas’ October 7 massacre, a U.S.-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas marked the first phase of a potential end to the Gaza conflict. Announced by President Donald Trump on October 8 as part of his 20-Point Peace Plan, the agreement included the release of Israeli hostages, a limited Israeli troop withdrawal, and the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Implementation began on October 10 with Israel’s partial withdrawal, triggering a 72-hour timeline for Hamas to release all hostages.
While 20 surviving hostages were released on October 13, the first phase was not officially completed until January 26, 2026, when the remains of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage, were recovered, marking the final account of all captives taken in the October 7 attacks.
What happened to Ran Gvili, the final hostage held by Hamas?
Master Sgt. Ran Gvili was the last deceased hostage held by Hamas. On January 26, 2026, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that it had located Gvili's body buried at a cemetery in eastern Gaza City, and that his remains were exhumed and will be brought home to Israel. Gvili, a 24-year-old Israel Police Special Patrol Unit (Yasam) volunteer from Meitar in southern Israel, rescued roughly 100 Nova Music Festival survivors and killed 14 Hamas terrorists during the battle near Alumim before he was abducted and murdered.
Are there any hostages still held in Gaza?
No. As of January 26, 2026, no Israeli hostages remain in the Gaza Strip. The return of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili’s remains marks the final account of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups on October 7, 2023, and the first time since 2014 that Hamas holds no Israeli captives in Gaza. All living hostages were previously released, and Gvili’s recovery completes the process of accounting for all those taken during the attack.
Who are the surviving Israeli hostages who are back in Israel?
The following hostages returned to Israeli soil on October 13 after more than two years in Hamas captivity:
Elkana Bohbot
Matan Angrest
Avinatan Or
Yosef-Haim Ohana
Alon Ohel
Evyatar David
Guy Gilboa-Dalal
Rom Braslavski
Gali Berman
Ziv Berman
Eitan Mor
Segev Kalfon
Nimrod Cohen
Maxim Herkin
Eitan Horn
Matan Zangauker
Bar Kupershtein
David Cunio
Ariel Cunio
Omri Miran
Israel Receives Remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin
After more than 11 years, the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed and taken by Hamas during a U.N.-brokered ceasefire while working to destroy a Hamas terror tunnel in the 2014 Gaza War, was returned to Israel on Sunday, November 9.
Go Deeper:
In Times Square, AJC Calls for Hostages’ Return
AJC Welcomes Long-Overdue Return of the Surviving Hostages Released from Gaza
Gaza Peace Plan Explained: Insights from AJC Experts Across the Region
Timeline: Israel-Hamas Peace Deal and Hostage Release
Israel and the War Updates
How is AJC advocating for the hostages and their families?
Since Hamas’ attack, AJC has been advocating side-by-side with more than 50 hostage families—during their visits to the United States and Europe—to keep their stories front of mind for officials at the highest levels of leadership across society, including with more than 200 members of Congress, multiple national media outlets, the U.S. State Department, major U.S. administration officials, high-ranking diplomats, faith leaders, and more.
In addition, in this episode of AJC's People of the Pod, Jessica Bernton, AJC’s Director of Congressional Affairs, shares details of AJC’s joint advocacy with the hostage families of returned hostages—how personal stories, bipartisan meetings with Congress and the White House, and coordinated delegations kept the issue at the forefront.
