‘We will not compromise’: Netanyahu condemns Hamas for returning a Palestinian corpse instead of hostage remains

The remains belonged to a Palestinian from Gaza who assisted Israeli forces during the war.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Hamas on Wednesday after it was revealed that one of the four bodies transferred to Israel under the current ceasefire arrangement did not belong to a fallen hostage but to a Palestinian from Gaza who had assisted Israeli forces during the war.

A spokesperson for Netanyahu told foreign correspondents that the act constituted a breach of the agreement established under US President Donald Trump’s peace framework. “Hamas released a body that is not that of a fallen soldier,” the statement read. “Hamas must return all the fallen hostages; we will not compromise and will spare no effort until every one of them is brought home.”

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel will utilize every possible means to ensure the return of all hostages’ remains,” one Israeli official stated. Families of the fallen said the return of their loved ones’ bodies would bring them a measure of closure and allow for proper burial in Israel.

Earlier Wednesday, the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute confirmed the identities of three of the four deceased hostages returned by Hamas — Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi, and Eitan Levi — while the fourth body was determined to belong to the Gazan collaborator mistakenly sent in place of one of the Israeli victims.

The Prime Minister’s Office reaffirmed that despite Hamas’ violations, Israel has continued to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza as stipulated in the Trump-brokered deal.

“Humanitarian aid has never been interrupted,” the statement continued, adding that inquiries about aid coordination should be directed to COGAT and the Israel Defense Forces.

Ceasefiredeceased hostagesHamas