The Prime Minister's Office announced this evening (Sunday) that since the weekend, IDF forces have been conducting a large-scale operation to locate the kidnapped pilot, Major General Rani Gueili.
The operation, called "Brave Heart," is being carried out in the area of the cemetery in the Dargah Tofah neighborhood in northern Gaza. It is an Islamic Jihad cemetery.
The bureau's statement further stated: "The operation is taking place in a cemetery in the northern Gaza Strip, and extensive scanning operations are being carried out there, while exhausting all the intelligence information in our possession. This effort will continue as long as necessary. The State of Israel is determined to return the late Rani Gweily to the grave of Israel. His family is continuously updated and is aware of the details of the operation.".
According to a report on Channel 12, the IDF is currently operating under the working assumption that Guili was buried east of the Yellow Line, in the Saja'iya or Darj-Tufah area.
Forces from the Alexandroni Brigade are taking part in the operation, but there are also regular and reserve forces, including forces designated to conduct searches. Part of the operation takes place beyond the Yellow Line.
There are additional directions being examined, and if Gueili is not located as part of the current operation, they will be examined. Intelligence information in the hands of the IDF has led to a recently growing understanding that Gueili was likely buried in a cemetery, but the IDF emphasizes that this is not intelligence received from Hamas. The extensive operation is expected to take up to several days.
The Prime Minister's Office's announcement was made shortly after a written statement by Hamas' military wing spokesman, Abu Obeida, in which he claimed that the terrorist organization had transferred all the information it had about the location of the kidnapped pilot Ran Gweily to the mediators - as part of the ceasefire agreement efforts.
""We have passed on to the mediators all the details and information we have regarding the location of his body, and what emphasizes the truth of our words is that Israel is now searching in a specific location based on the information provided by Hamas' military wing," the statement said.
Hamas's announcement was made ahead of the cabinet meeting that convened this evening to approve the opening of the Rafah Crossing in both directions.
The statement further stated that Hamas acted with full transparency in all matters concerning the treatment of the hostages and casualties, and transferred them all as quickly as possible, according to it, and without delays - despite what were defined as violations by Israel.
The terrorist organization said it was "very eager" to completely close the issue of the hostages and that it "is not interested in procrastination." According to Hamas, the operations to rescue the bodies and the hostages were carried out under difficult and almost impossible conditions, in cooperation with the mediators.
The terrorist organization called on the mediators to force Israel to meet its obligations under the agreement.
""Both sides agree on next steps""
President Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated today following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that took place yesterday that "both sides agree on the next steps.".
The meeting took place as part of a visit to Israel by a senior American delegation. In addition to Witkoff, the delegation included Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, senior adviser Aryeh Lightstone, and White House adviser Josh Greenbaum.
The discussion focused primarily on continuing progress and planning the implementation of Phase II of President Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, which the US and Israel are jointly promoting.
According to an official statement issued following the meeting, the two sides also discussed broader regional issues, emphasizing the importance of close cooperation between the two countries.
""The discussion was constructive and positive, with both sides aligning on next steps and the importance of continued cooperation on all issues critical to the region," the statement said.
The announcement emphasized that the US and Israel maintain a "strong and long-standing relationship based on close coordination and shared priorities.".
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