Hamas to return another hostage body amid ceasefire “violation” claims

Hamas said it would hand over another hostage’s body after Israel accused the group of breaching a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal by returning only partial remains of a captive already repatriated two years ago.

The militant group had agreed to return 28 bodies under the truce that began on October 10, but Israeli officials said the 16th body Hamas delivered Monday belonged to Ofir Tzarfati - whose remains had already been recovered in 2023.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called it a “clear violation of the agreement” and said Israel would review its response in consultation with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

An Israeli government spokeswoman alleged Hamas had staged the discovery, saying the group “dug a hole, placed partial remains inside, and handed them to the Red Cross.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged Israel to act decisively, accusing Hamas of deceit.

Hamas denied wrongdoing, claiming Israel’s bombardments had made it difficult to locate all bodies. The group said it had already freed all 20 living hostages as part of the truce.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry accused Israel of ceasefire violations, reporting at least 94 deaths since the truce began. Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich urged renewed action against Hamas, with Ben Gvir saying it was time to “break its legs.”

Tzarfati, who was abducted and killed during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on the Nova music festival, has now had his remains returned three separate times. His family said, “The circle supposedly closed in 2023, but it never truly closes.”