Israel claimed that a set of partial hostage remains returned by Hamas Monday night belonged to a deceased captive recovered by the military around two years ago.
‘After completing the identification process this morning, it was found that last night remains belonging to the fallen hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who had been returned from the Gaza Strip in a military operation about two years ago, were returned,’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
Netanyahu’s office said that ‘this constitutes a clear violation of the agreement’ by Hamas and that Netanyahu would meet with heads of the defence establishment ‘during which Israel’s steps in response to the violations will be discussed’.
A Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the body was found on Monday in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood, and that it was handed over at 9:00pm, approximately two hours before the deadline that US President Donald Trump set for the terrorist organization.
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.
