Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to hold a discussion with the heads of Israel's defense establishment on Tuesday to decide on a response.
Hamas terrorists released overnight Monday additional remains of an Israeli hostage whose body had already been retrieved for burial, in violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.
“Following the completion of the identification process this morning, it was found that last night, remains belonging to the deceased hostage Ofir Tzarfati, of blessed memory, were returned from Gaza,” Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office stated, adding: “His family has been notified.”
Tzarfati’s body was already retrieved from the Gaza Strip as part of an Israeli military operation in December 2023, the PMO noted, saying Hamas’s refusal to return a 16th hostage body “constitutes a clear violation of the agreement by the Hamas terrorist organization.”