Israel has strongly denied Hamas claims that one of the bodies released on Tuesday was a soldier captured last year, insisting that no such details exist.
Outrage erupted in Israel early on Wednesday when Israeli forensic analysts found that one of the four bodies released by Hamas did not match any of the individuals abducted on October 7, 2023. The discrepancy prompted accusations from Israel that Hamas had violated the ceasefire agreement.
The Jewish state demanded that the terror group fully abide by its obligations under the US-backed ceasefire agreement, The New York Post reported.
Hamas claims they are IDF soldiers
However, Hamas claimed the body belonged to an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier who was captured and killed during a firefight in the Jabalia refugee camp in May 2024 – an incident Israel disputes. The group released a video showing members carrying a bloodied body through a tunnel, with the deceased depicted wearing military uniforms and holding a rifle, the news outlet said.
The Israeli military has repeatedly dismissed the claims as false, saying no such ambush ever took place and that all of its soldiers during the war were responsible, The New York Post reported.
Netanyahu demands compliance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the incident as a failure by Hamas to abide by a cease-fire agreement that requires the group to release all remaining hostages.
“We will not compromise on this and we will not stop our efforts until they return the last deceased hostage, down to the last one,” Netanyahu vowed, according to the news outlet.
Hamas cites operational challenges
Hamas has previously said that due to the widespread destruction of Gaza, it requires more time to find and return all hostages, underscoring the logistical difficulties the group faces.
