NETANYAHU ORDERS INTENSE STRIKES ON GAZA AFTER ACCUSING HAMAS OF CEASEFIRE BREACH
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered the military to launch powerful strikes on the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire.
The order followed a dispute over the return of hostage remains, after Hamas allegedly handed over partial remains of an Israeli captive already repatriated two years ago.
“Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military to immediately carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said.
Shortly after, Hamas announced that it would delay the handover of another hostage’s body, citing what it described as Israel’s truce violations.
“We will postpone the handover that was scheduled for today due to the occupation’s violations,” the militant group’s armed wing said, warning that any Israeli “escalation will hinder the search, excavation, and recovery of the bodies.”
Hamas had handed over late Monday what it said was the 16th of 28 hostage bodies to be returned under the truce agreement that took effect on October 10. However, Israeli forensic analysis later determined the remains were those of Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage whose body had already been recovered in a military operation two years ago.
Netanyahu’s office described the act as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire deal.
“Identification procedures revealed the latest remains belonged to the fallen hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who had been returned from the Gaza Strip about two years ago,” it said.
Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian accused Hamas of staging the handover.
“Hamas dug a hole, placed the partial remains of Ofir inside, covered it with dirt, and handed it over to the Red Cross,” she told journalists, adding that Israel’s response would be coordinated with US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on the Israeli government to respond decisively, saying,
“The Israeli government cannot and must not ignore this, and must act decisively against these violations.”
In response, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denied the accusations, saying Israeli bombardments had destroyed key locations, making it difficult to locate other remains.
“The movement is determined to hand over the bodies of the Israeli captives as soon as possible once they are located,” he said.
According to Hamas’s health ministry, at least 94 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, which the group blames on Israeli violations.
On the ground in Gaza, residents fear a return to full-scale war.
“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.”
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, also urged a stronger military response, writing on X,
“It is time to break [Hamas’s] legs once and for all.”
The October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that triggered the conflict left 1,221 people dead in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official figures. Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza has since killed at least 68,531 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the United Nations deems credible.
The family of Ofir Tzarfati expressed anguish over the repeated returns of his remains, saying,
“This is the third time we have been forced to open Ofir’s grave and rebury our son. The circle supposedly ‘closed’ back in December 2023, but it never truly closes.”
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