Additional hostage body found in Gaza, Hamas claims

As terror attacks imperil Gaza ceasefire, Hamas teases return of additional slain hostage but claims Israeli retaliations could prevent the transfer.

By World Israel News Staff

Hamas terrorists operating in the Gaza Strip have located the remains of an additional Israeli hostage, the group announced Sunday, after fighting broke out in the coastal enclave, threatening the fragile truce in Gaza.

Following the attacks, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas terror organization, issued a statement denying knowledge or involvement, claiming its central command had lost contact with individual cells in Rafah.

Shortly afterward, the Al-Qassam Brigades announced that Hamas forces have located the remains of an additional slain Israeli hostage.

The group added that it was prepared to retrieve the body and transfer it to Israel – as is required under the ceasefire deal – but warned that an “escalation” in Gaza could prevent Hamas from recovering the body.

“The Al-Qassam Brigades found today the body of one of the occupation’s prisoners during ongoing search operations and will hand it over today if field conditions permit. We affirm that any Zionist escalation will impede search and excavation operations and the recovery of bodies, which will lead to a delay in the occupation’s retrieval of the bodies of its dead,” it stated.

On Sunday morning, three separate violations of the ceasefire were reported, including an attack by Hamas terrorists on an IDF force stationed in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.

Multiple anti-tank missiles were fired during the attack, followed by heavy gunfire. Two IDF soldiers were killed and three wounded.

Hamas sniper attacks were also reported Sunday, along with an attempted infiltration of IDF-controlled territory in the Jabalya area of northern Gaza.

Israel responded to the attacks with artillery fire, airstrikes, and naval fire on Hamas forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later held an emergency consultation by telephone with Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior IDF officials.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Netanyahu ordered the IDF to hit Hamas positions in Gaza.