Witkoff celebrates 'new day in the Middle East' after final Israeli hostage is returned from Gaza

U.S. peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff is hailing the commencement of a caller epoch successful the Middle East aft the instrumentality of the remains of the last Israeli hostage successful Gaza.

Israeli constabulary serviceman Ran Gvili's remains were returned to Israel connected Monday, marking the instrumentality of each hostages, some surviving and deceased.

"Yesterday was a historical day," Witkoff wrote successful a station connected X. "Now, ALL 20 surviving hostages and each 28 deceased hostages successful Gaza person present been returned to their families – a monumental, historical feat that fewer thought was possible. It’s acknowledgment to the hard enactment of truthful many, but particularly [the president], who works tirelessly for peace."

"This closes a achy section for many, and paves the mode for a caller aboriginal that tin beryllium defined by peace, not war, and prosperity, not destruction," Witkoff added. "It’s a caller time successful the Middle East, and President Trump, myself, and the full squad are committed to sustained bid and prosperity for each successful the region."

ISRAEL CONFIRMS RECOVERY OF LAST HOSTAGE'S REMAINS FROM GAZA

U.S. peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff celebrated the instrumentality of Ran Gvili's remains, saying it was a "new time successful the Middle East." (The Hostages and Missing Families Forum; Noam Galai/Getty Images)

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an enactment created successful the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks to correspond the families of those who were kidnapped, thanked Witkoff and echoed his message, saying, "Without [the president] and his administration, the hostages would ne'er person travel home."

President Donald Trump celebrated the instrumentality of Gvili's remains from Gaza with a station connected Truth Social.

"Just recovered the past hostage assemblage successful GAZA. Thus, got backmost ALL 20 of the surviving hostages, and ALL of the dead! AMAZING JOB! Most thought of it arsenic an intolerable happening to do. Congratulations to my large squad of champions!!!" Trump wrote.

People clasp signs with a photograph of Ran Gvili, who was killed portion warring Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, during a rally calling for his instrumentality successful Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.  (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

TRUMP WRITES MESSAGE TO ISRAELIS AFTER ALL LIVING HOSTAGES RELEASED BY HAMAS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu besides praised Trump portion addressing Israel's parliament, known arsenic the Knesset. He thanked Trump, Witkoff, Jared Kushner and their teams "for their important and important support."

Trump has antecedently made high-profile diplomatic moves successful the Middle East. During his archetypal administration, helium brokered a bid of normalization agreements known arsenic the Abraham Accords betwixt Israel and respective Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

Witkoff and Trump visited Israel successful October connected the time the last remaining surviving hostages returned location from Gaza aft much than 2 years successful captivity. The Knesset received them and different members of the medication with cheers of gratitude.

"No American president has ever done much for Israel," Netanyahu said astatine the time. "It ain’t adjacent close."

When the surviving hostages were released, Witkoff celebrated their instrumentality and recognized the symptom of those whose loved ones would not travel location alive.

"Even successful this infinitesimal of alleviation and happiness, my bosom aches for those whose loved ones volition not instrumentality alive. Bringing their bodies location is simply a indispensable and an enactment of dignity and honors their representation forever," Witkoff wrote connected X.

A photograph shows chairs and banners with a representation of Ran Gvili, the past hostage held successful Gaza, the time aft his remains were brought location by Israeli forces, successful Hostage Square successful Tel Aviv, connected Jan. 27, 2026.  (Jack GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

On the greeting of Oct. 7, Gvili was expected to beryllium astatine location resting portion waiting for country connected his breached shoulder, which helium sustained during a motorbike accident. However, erstwhile rocket sirens sounded, Gvili, who was 24 astatine the time, grabbed his azygous and went to fight. He fought alongside chap officers and was yet killed adjacent Kibbutz Alumim. His assemblage was taken into Gaza, wherever it was held for implicit 840 days.

In December, Ran’s mother, Talik Gvili, wrote an op-ed for Fox News Digital reflecting connected her son’s last moments and pleading for his return.

"My Ran ne'er hesitated erstwhile evil came knocking... That's who my lad was," she said of her son's actions connected Oct. 7.

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"I committedness you, my Ran, that your communicative volition beryllium heard astir the world. Everyone volition cognize what you did, however you fought, however you ne'er gave up."