Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday instructed the military to launch what his office called “powerful strikes” on the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
The order followed rising tensions over the return of Israeli hostage remains. Hamas announced it would delay a planned handover on Tuesday, alleging Israeli forces had committed “violations” that disrupted efforts to locate and retrieve bodies.
Hamas said Monday it had transferred what it believed to be the 16th of 28 hostage bodies agreed under the truce in place since October 10. But Israeli officials said forensic analysis revealed the remains were partial and had already been brought back to Israel nearly two years ago, identifying them as those of Ofir Tzarfati, killed after being abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.
Netanyahu’s office condemned the move as a “clear violation of the agreement,” while a campaign group representing hostage families called for decisive action. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian accused Hamas of staging the recovery and said Israel was considering “consequences,” in coordination with the United States.
Hamas denied deliberately mishandling the return of remains and said continued Israeli bombardment over the course of the two-year conflict has complicated recovery operations.
Although all 20 living hostages covered under the ceasefire agreement have been freed, Hamas claims it is still searching for the remaining bodies. It also accuses Israel of undermining the truce, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting at least 94 deaths from Israeli fire since the pause began.
Residents in Gaza expressed fear the fragile halt in fighting is nearing collapse. “Now they accuse Hamas of stalling, and that is a pretext for renewed escalation and war,” said Abdul-Hayy al-Hajj Ahmed, 60.
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded a forceful response, saying, “It is time to break its legs once and for all.”
Hamas militants abducted 251 people during their October 7 attack, which killed 1,221 in Israel, according to official figures. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed more than 68,531 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry figures cited by the United Nations.
Tzarfati’s family said they had now been forced to rebury their son three times. “The circle supposedly ‘closed’ back in December 2023, but it never truly closes,” they said.