Hamas has announced plans to hand over another hostage’s body to Israel on Tuesday, amid mounting accusations of breaching the ongoing Gaza ceasefire after returning only the partial remains of a captive whose body had already been repatriated nearly two years ago.
Late on Monday, the Palestinian militant group transferred what it described as the 16th of 28 hostage bodies it had agreed to release under the US-brokered ceasefire deal that took effect on October 10. However, forensic investigations in Israel revealed that the remains actually belonged to a hostage who had already been returned in a prior operation, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Later on Tuesday, Hamas’s armed wing stated that it would deliver at 1800 GMT the remains of another hostage discovered in tunnels beneath Gaza. Netanyahu’s office, alongside a campaign group representing families of hostages, accused Hamas of “a clear violation of the agreement,” explaining that identification confirmed the remains were those “of the fallen hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who had been returned from the Gaza Strip in a military operation about two years ago.”
In response, Netanyahu said he would convene security officials to determine Israel’s next course of action. Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told reporters that “in terms of consequences for Hamas nothing is off the table right now, but all of this is in full coordination with the United States, with (US) President (Donald) Trump and his team.”
Bedrosian further accused Hamas of fabricating the recovery of Tzarfati’s remains, claiming that “Hamas dug a hole in the ground yesterday, placed the partial remains of Ofir inside of it, covered it back up with dirt, and handed it over to the Red Cross.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called for decisive action from the government, stating, “In light of Hamas’s severe breach of the agreement last night… the Israeli government cannot and must not ignore this, and must act decisively against these violations.” The group added that “Hamas knows the location of the hostages and continues to act with contempt, deceiving the United States and mediators while dishonouring our loved ones.”
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem dismissed the allegations, asserting that the group does not know the exact location of all remaining bodies, citing Israel’s heavy bombardment during the conflict as a factor that destroyed identifiable areas. “The movement is determined to hand over the bodies of the Israeli captives as soon as possible once they are located,” he told AFP.
While Hamas has already returned all 20 living hostages in line with the ceasefire terms, it accused Israel of its own violations. Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 94 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce began.
In Gaza, civilians expressed growing fear that the fragile ceasefire could collapse. “Now they accuse Hamas of stalling, and that is a pretext for renewed escalation and war,” said 60-year-old Abdul-Hayy al-Hajj Ahmed. “We want to rest. I believe the war will come back.”
Within Israel’s political sphere, far-right leaders demanded stronger action. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared on X that “it is time to break its legs once and for all,” while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the re-arrest of Palestinian prisoners freed under the truce deal.
The October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel led to the abduction of 251 people, most of whom have since been freed, rescued, or recovered. The attack itself left 1,221 Israelis dead, mostly civilians, according to official figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 68,531 people, based on data from the Hamas-run health ministry, figures considered credible by the UN.
Ofir Tzarfati, one of the hostages referenced in the recent controversy, was abducted during the Nova music festival on October 7 and later killed. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed that this was the third time remains belonging to him had been returned—his body was initially recovered at the end of 2023, and additional remains were returned in March 2024.
“This is the third time we have been forced to open Ofir’s grave and rebury our son,” his family said through the forum. “The circle supposedly ‘closed’ back in December 2023, but it never truly closes.”
What you should know
The recent dispute between Israel and Hamas highlights the growing fragility of the Gaza ceasefire, as mutual accusations of violations threaten to reignite conflict.
The controversy surrounding Ofir Tzarfati’s remains has intensified public anger in Israel, while Hamas continues to deny wrongdoing, citing the destruction from Israel’s own airstrikes. Both sides remain on edge, with diplomatic mediators struggling to sustain the truce.
