Netanyahu Orders Fresh Strikes on Gaza After Hamas ‘Breaches’ Ceasefire Deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered the military to launch intense strikes on the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

The renewed tension erupted after Israel claimed Hamas returned only partial remains of a hostage whose body had already been recovered nearly two years ago.

“Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military to immediately carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Moments after the announcement, Hamas said it would delay the handover of another hostage’s body, blaming Israel for violating the truce.

“We will postpone the handover that was scheduled for today due to the occupation’s violations,” Hamas’s armed wing said, warning that any Israeli “escalation will hinder the search, excavation, and recovery of the bodies.”

Partial Remains Spark Outrage

Hamas had on Monday handed over what it said was the 16th of 28 agreed hostage bodies under the truce, which took effect on October 10.
However, Israeli forensic tests revealed that the remains belonged to Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage who was already returned to Israel during a military operation nearly two years ago.

Netanyahu’s office condemned the move as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire deal.

Shosh Bedrosian, an Israeli government spokeswoman, went further, accusing Hamas of staging the handover.

“Hamas dug a hole in the ground, placed the partial remains of Ofir inside, covered it back up with dirt, and handed it to the Red Cross,” she alleged, adding that the Israeli government was reviewing “all consequences” in coordination with US President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also urged the government to respond decisively to what it called Hamas’s “severe breach” of the deal.

Mounting Tension, Renewed Fear

Hamas, in turn, denied accusations that it was deliberately withholding the remaining hostages’ bodies, claiming that Israel’s bombardment had made some locations unrecognisable.

“The movement is determined to hand over the bodies of the Israeli captives as soon as possible once they are located,” said Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem.

The group added that it had already returned all 20 living hostages as agreed, and accused Israel of continuing attacks despite the truce. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 94 people had been killed in Israeli fire since the ceasefire began.

Amid the rising tension, Gaza residents expressed fear that a new war could erupt.

“Now they accuse Hamas of stalling, and that’s a pretext for renewed escalation,” said 60-year-old Abdul-Hayy al-Hajj Ahmed. “We want to rest, but I believe the war will come back.”

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, also called for a tougher response.

“It is time to break its legs once and for all,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

A Pain That Won’t End

Ofir Tzarfati, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, has now been buried three times, as his family continues to receive new fragments of his remains.

“This is the third time we have been forced to open Ofir’s grave and rebury our son,” his family said in a statement. “The circle supposedly closed back in December 2023, but it never truly closes.”

According to official Israeli figures, 1,221 people were killed in Hamas’s October 7 attacks, most of them civilians.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed over 68,000 people, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry — numbers the United Nations says are “credible.”

Despite the ceasefire, the death toll continues to climb as rescue teams recover more bodies from the rubble.