Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the military to launch immediate attacks in Gaza following accusations that Hamas violated the ceasefire by handing over remains of an Israeli hostage that had already been recovered.
In a statement from the prime minister’s office, Netanyahu instructed the military to conduct powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip after security consultations.
Hamas has claimed difficulty in locating the bodies amidst the extensive destruction in Gaza, while Israel has accused the militant group of intentionally delaying the return of the remains.
Egypt has dispatched a team of experts and heavy equipment to assist in the search for the remaining hostages’ bodies, with operations ongoing in Khan Younis and Nuseirat.
This incident marks the second time since the ceasefire commenced on October 10 that remains turned over by Hamas have caused issues. Israel noted that one of the bodies released by Hamas in the initial week of the ceasefire was that of an unidentified Palestinian.
During a previous ceasefire in February 2025, Hamas had claimed to return the bodies of three hostages, but subsequent testing revealed discrepancies in the identities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recent return of body parts by Hamas as a breach of the ceasefire terms, which stipulate the prompt return of all Israeli hostage remains.
Netanyahu has authorized “powerful strikes” on Gaza, in a move testing the US-brokered ceasefire, shortly after Israel reported Hamas firing at Israeli forces in southern Gaza.
Tensions escalated further after Hamas returned remains that Israel claimed belonged to an Israeli hostage previously recovered during the conflict.
