Trump reveals US knows location of last hostage

“There is one left. We think we know where he is,” Trump said.

By World Israel News

President Donald Trump held a White House briefing Tuesday to highlight what he described as major accomplishments marking the completion of the first year of his second term, including progress on the Gaza ceasefire and the return of hostages.

During his remarks, Trump mentioned one hostage whose remains have not yet been returned, Ran Gvili, and suggested he may have been located. “There is one left. We think we know where he is,” Trump said.

Following Trump’s comments, the family issued a statement welcoming the indication that progress may be possible, while urging that no further stages of the deal move forward until he is brought home.

“The president’s announcement that they know where Rani is strengthens our position from the beginning that Hamas knows where he is,” said Talik Gvili, the hostage’s mother and a member of the Tikva Forum.

She added that the family is aware of “major efforts” underway to locate him and said they are praying for the search to succeed.

“Our position is clear,” she said. “As long as Rani does not return home, we do not move to the next stage of the deal.”

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem offered a different account in comments to Al Jazeera, claiming the group has already provided all the information it has regarding Gvili.

“We provided all the information we have about Ran Gvili,” Qassem said, adding that Hamas had acted “positively” in response to search efforts.

Qassem accused Israel of repeatedly delaying searches in areas “beyond the Yellow Line,” and said Hamas has been updating mediators directly.

He claimed the terror group is willing to cooperate with mediators and guarantors of the agreement in any effort to locate the body, but alleged that Israel is using the inability to recover him as a reason to avoid fulfilling commitments under the first phase of the deal.