Daniel Estrin
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This marks the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
It paves the way for another big step.
Israel says it will allow Gaza's border crossing with Egypt to reopen again for Palestinians to enter and exit.
Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Jerusalem.
Israel's government is calling this a large-scale operation to locate the body of one final hostage, Rani Gavili, an Israeli policeman killed on October 7, 2023, while fighting Hamas militants.
Hamas already handed over all other living and dead hostages since the ceasefire was declared in October, but it says it was unable to retrieve this final body.
Hamas says it provided information it has about the location of the body.
Israeli forces are searching in a cemetery in northern Gaza, in an area under Israeli military control according to the terms of the ceasefire.
A military official says troops are acting based on intelligence.
Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel Saturday.
Witkoff's office said they discussed the next phase in the Gaza ceasefire.
Israeli media report the discussions were about reopening Gaza's border crossing with Egypt to allow Palestinians to finally be able to enter and exit Gaza again.
The border is expected to open this week, despite Israeli opposition, as the last Israeli hostage body in Gaza still has not been recovered.
Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper met with Israel's military chief of staff Saturday.
has been beefing up its military assets in the Mideast this past week as Trump says he's still considering strikes on Iran.
Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.