The Body Returned By Hamas Yesterday Claimed By Israel Belonging To Hostages Found In 2023

Police escorted a coffin suspected of containing the bodies of two hostages from the Gaza border to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv. (Source: Israeli Police)

JAKARTA - Israel announced that the bodies Hamas returned on Monday were part of a body found in 2023, assessing Hamas violated the first phase of the ceasefire.

The body Hamas returned to Israel Monday night belongs to Ofir Tzarfati, whose body was found by the Israeli military (IDF) in the Gaza Strip in December 2023, less than two months after his kidnapping in the October 7 attack.

The Tzarfati family was told by military representatives that part of its remains had been returned, quoted from The Times of Israel October 28.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office stated in a statement that "this constitutes a marked violation of the agreement" by Hamas, as Hamas is obliged to return the bodies of 13 prisoners who are still detained in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a security assessment with top defense officials Tuesday afternoon local time to "discuss Israeli measures in response to the breach," the Prime Minister's Office added.

As previously reported, Israel said on Monday the Red Cross had handed over the bodies of other hostages from the Gaza Strip, Palestine to the Israeli military, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

If the identity of the hostages who died is confirmed, it means the bodies of 12 hostages are still in Gaza, with the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, citing obstacles in finding them in the ruins of the remnant fighting.

Earlier on Monday, armed winger group Hamas said it would hand over the body of a hostage he found on Monday in Gaza.

The discovery and surrender of the bodies of the dead hostages in the Palestinian Bag region is one of the obstacles to the United States President Donald Trump's plans for Gaza.

An Israeli government spokesman said on Sunday the Palestinian militant group knew where the bodies were.

Israel on the same day allowed the entry of the Egyptian technical team to cooperate with the Red Cross to find the bodies.