JERUSALEM, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli delegation travelled to Cairo on Wednesday for talks with mediators on implementing the ceasefire with Hamas, with a focus on securing the return of the body of the last Israeli hostage believed to be held in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
"The meetings focused on efforts and operational details to secure the return of the body of the slain hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili," the statement said.
The delegation was led by Gal Hirsch, Israel's coordinator for hostages and missing persons, and included representatives from the military, the Shin Bet domestic security agency, and the Mossad intelligence service.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Hamas has released all 20 living captives and returned 27 bodies. Gvili, an officer with the Yasam special riot-control unit of the Israel Police, is the only body Israel says remains in Gaza.
Hamas and the allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad group have said they have been unable to locate Gvili's body despite searches at multiple sites in eastern Gaza.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel has released around 2,000 Palestinians from its prisons and returned the bodies of hundreds of deceased Palestinians.
Israel's state-owned Kan broadcaster, citing U.S. officials, reported that a U.S.-backed peace plan is expected to move to a second phase in January, which would include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of an interim governing authority, and the deployment of an international stabilization force. ■
