Netanyahu ordered “forceful strikes” in Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire
Israel accuses Hamas of ceasefire breach
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered immediate “forceful strikes” in the Gaza Strip after accusing Hamas of violating the ongoing ceasefire agreement. The move follows reports that Hamas fired on Israeli forces in southern Gaza and returned remains belonging to a hostage already recovered.
“Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu has directed the military to immediately carry out forceful strikes in the Gaza Strip,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Hostage handover suspended amid growing tensions
Minutes after Netanyahu’s order, Hamas announced that it would postpone the scheduled handover of another hostage’s body. The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades said the decision was due to “the occupation’s violations,” warning that any escalation would hinder ongoing efforts to recover additional remains.
On Monday, Hamas handed over what was believed to be the 16th of 28 hostage bodies as part of the ceasefire deal agreed on October 10. However, Israeli forensic analysis later revealed that the remains belonged to Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage whose body had already been returned two years ago.
Israel, US coordinate response to ceasefire breach
According to the Associated Press, Israeli troops came under fire in Rafah on Tuesday and returned fire. Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said that while “nothing is off the table” in Israel’s response to Hamas, the situation is being managed “in full coordination with the United States, with President Donald Trump and his team.”
Bedrosian further accused Hamas of staging the discovery of Tzarfati’s remains, claiming the group buried partial remains in a new location to deceive international observers.
“This is the third time we have been forced to open Ofir’s grave and rebury our son,” Tzarfati’s family said in a statement released by the Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
