Hamas refuses to release body of hostage, claims Israel’s retaliation violated ceasefire

Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately withholding the return of bodies and staging false discoveries while claiming compliance with the ceasefire agreement.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Hamas announced Tuesday that it would not return the body of a deceased Israeli hostage as planned, claiming Israel had violated the terms of the ceasefire.

The terror group was supposed to have released the remains Tuesday at 8 p.m., but the transfer was stopped due to Israeli airstrikes launched in retaliation for a Hamas attack against IDF soldiers beyond the Yellow Line in Gaza.

The Saudi Al-Hadath channel later reported that Hamas said it located another hostage’s body in a tunnel in Khan Younis in addition to the one recovered earlier in the day.

Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately withholding the return of bodies and staging false discoveries while claiming compliance with the ceasefire agreement.

Shortly before the latest announcement, the Prime Minister’s Office said Hamas had breached the deal by handing over remains that did not match any of the 13 Israeli hostages still missing.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the group would “pay a heavy price” for the attack on IDF troops earlier in the day and its ongoing violations of the agreement. He said the Israel Defense Forces would “respond with great force.”

The IDF later released drone footage it said showed Hamas operatives burying a white shroud containing a body in Gaza City and then staging its “discovery” in front of Red Cross personnel.

The 15-minute video depicts three men covering the shroud with dirt, then uncovering it again as observers record the scene. According to the army, the footage demonstrates that Hamas is attempting to fabricate evidence of genuine recovery efforts.

After security consultations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “immediate, powerful” strikes on Gaza in response to the attacks on Israeli soldiers and Hamas’ ceasefire violations.

Israeli officials said Washington was informed of the decision as the IDF began retaliatory operations.

The incident adds to growing tension surrounding the fragile ceasefire, which required Hamas to return all hostages—living and deceased—within 72 hours.

While 20 hostages have been freed alive, Israel says 13 bodies remain in Gaza and accuses Hamas of stalling their recovery for political leverage.