Israel has accused Hamas of faking the discovery of hostage remains, claiming the group sent back body parts belonging to a captive who was already returned to Israel nearly two years ago.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the partial remains handed over by Hamas on Monday night did not match any of the 13 deceased hostages still believed to be in Gaza.
‘After completing the identification process this morning, it was found that the remains returned last night belonged to fallen hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who was brought back from Gaza in a military operation about two years ago,’ the statement said.
It added that the move ‘constitutes a clear violation of the agreement’ and that Mr Netanyahu would meet senior defence officials to discuss Israel’s response.
A Hamas official told Al Jazeera the body had been found on Monday in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood and was handed over around 9pm – roughly two hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for the group to return remains.
But, despite Hamas’s claims, IDF soldiers operating in the area say they witnessed terrorists staging the recovery of the body.
According to the troops who spoke to Arutz Sheva, the terrorists placed the body in a hole that they had dug, and called the Red Cross as if they had just located it.
Tzarfati was abducted from the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023, before being murdered.
His body was recovered at the end of November 2023 and brought to burial in Israel.
In March 2024, additional remains of Tzarfati were returned for burial in Israel. Then, in August of that year, Hamas published a photograph of his body.
‘We went to sleep last night with anticipation and hope that another family would close an agonising two-year circle and bring their loved one home for burial,’ Tzarfati’s family said.
‘But once again, deception has been inflicted upon our family as we try to heal.
‘This morning we were shown video footage of our beloved son’s remains being removed, buried, and handed over to the Red Cross – an abhorrent manipulation designed to sabotage the deal and abandon the effort to bring all the hostages home.’
The family added: ‘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.
‘Since then, we have lived with a wound that constantly reopens, between memory and longing, between bereavement and mission.’
‘Our Ofir went to Nova to celebrate his birthday and never returned.
‘We ask all the people of Israel not to forget the fallen, not to forget the hostages, and to continue supporting the families until their return and beyond -only then will we have a future. Only then can we continue to live in our country.’
It comes as an Israeli group campaigning for the release of hostages held in Gaza urged authorities on Tuesday to ‘act decisively’ against Hamas, accusing the group of violating the truce by returning only partial remains of a previously recovered captive.
‘In light of Hamas’ severe breach of the agreement last night… the Israeli government cannot and must not ignore this, and must act decisively against these violations,’ the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
