Netanyahu Orders Immediate Strikes on Gaza

JERUSALEM (AFP): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to launch intense attacks on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after accusing Hamas of violating a US-brokered ceasefire.

Minutes later, Hamas said it would delay handing over the remains of another hostage under the terms of the ceasefire agreement because of what Israel called “violations” of the ceasefire.

“Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the army to immediately carry out strong attacks in the Gaza Strip,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement, without elaborating. It was said.

The Palestinian militant group had previously said it would hand over another hostage’s body planned for Tuesday, amid mounting Israeli pressure after Hamas returned only the partial remains of a previously rescued captive.

“Due to the violations of the occupation, we will postpone the handover planned for today,” Hamas’s armed wing said in a statement, adding that Israel’s “increase in tensions will prevent the search, excavation and recovery of the bodies.”

Late on Monday, Hamas handed over 16 of the 28 hostages it agreed to return as part of the ceasefire agreement that came into force on October 10.

But a forensic examination in Israel determined that Hamas had in fact partially handed over the remains of a hostage whose body was brought to Israel two years ago, according to Netanyahu’s office.

Netanyahu’s office and a campaign group representing the hostages’ families accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by returning only the partial remains of a captive who had already been repatriated.

Netanyahu’s office condemned a “blatant violation of the agreement” after identification procedures revealed that the final remains belonged to “martyr hostage Ofir Tzarfati, who was returned from the Gaza Strip in a military operation nearly two years ago.”

Netanyahu’s latest instructions came after holding security-related consultations earlier in the day.

Israeli government spokesman Shosh Bedrosian later told reporters: “Nothing is off the table right now in terms of consequences for Hamas, but all of this is in full coordination with the United States, (US) President (Donald) Trump and his team.”

Bedrosyan also accused Hamas of staging the discovery of Tzarfati’s remains.

“Today I can confirm to you that yesterday Hamas dug a hole, placed some of Ofir’s remains in it, covered it with soil and handed it over to the Red Cross,” he said.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on the government to take action.

The forum accused Hamas of knowing the location of the missing hostages, saying, “In light of Hamas’ serious violations of the agreement last night… the Israeli government cannot and should not ignore this and must act decisively against these violations.” It was said.

-‘Break his legs’-

Hamas spokesman Hazem Kasim rejected claims that the group knew where the remaining bodies were, saying Israeli bombardment during the two-year conflict had left the locations unrecognisable.

“The movement is determined to hand over the bodies of Israeli captives as soon as possible after they are located,” he told AFP.

Hamas has already returned all 20 surviving hostages as agreed in the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas also accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, and the region’s health ministry said at least 94 people had died from Israeli fire since the ceasefire began.

Abdul-Hayy al-Hajj Ahmed, 60, who was on the ground in Gaza, told AFP he feared the war would restart due to increasing pressure on Hamas.

“Now they accuse Hamas of stalling, and this is an excuse for renewed tensions and war,” he said.

“We want to rest. I believe the war will return.”

Israel’s far-right national security minister accused Hamas of delaying the release of the remaining bodies.

Itamar Ben Gvir wrote to X: “It’s time to break your legs once and for all.”

– Third group of residues –

Hamas militants took 251 people hostage during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, most of whom were released, rescued or rescued before this month’s ceasefire.

The attack resulted in 1,221 deaths on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to AFP’s calculation based on official Israeli figures.

At least 68,531 people died in Israel’s attack on Gaza, according to the UN’s reliable figures from the health ministry of the Hamas-run region.

Despite the ceasefire, the death toll continued to rise as more bodies were found under the rubble.

The hostage forum said Ofir Tzarfati was “taken into captivity and killed” while he was at the Nova music festival on October 7.

After his body was found at the end of 2023, it was stated that this was the third time his remains were returned, and the other remains were returned in March 2024.

“This is the third time we have had to exhume Ofir and rebury our son,” Tzarfati’s family said in a statement at the forum. he said.

“The circle was said to ‘close’ in December 2023, but it never actually closes.”