Hamas' Trickery: What Really Happened with the Remains?

The recent return of a casket by Hamas to Israel has raised eyebrows and sparked outrage. Inside the casket were only partial remains of Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage whose body was already recovered by the Israeli military in December 2023. This means Hamas did not return the body of one of the 13 deceased hostages still held in Gaza.

Israel Accuses Hamas of Stalling

Israel has accused Hamas of dragging its feet in returning the remaining bodies, as required by the US-backed ceasefire agreement. Voices from all sides are calling on Israel to reconsider its commitments under the agreement in response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to discuss possible reactions in an emergency meeting.

Ofir Tzarfati's Tragic Story

Ofir Tzarfati was kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. He was celebrating his 27th birthday when he was taken hostage. His family was notified by military representatives that additional remains of his body were returned by Hamas.

Controversial Transfer of Remains

The transfer of the remains had already sparked controversy. Military sources said Hamas staged its “discovery” in eastern Gaza City by digging a hole, extracting the remains from a nearby building, and then pretending to “uncover” them in front of the Red Cross. The entire incident was filmed by a military drone, and the footage leaked to the media.

Video Evidence of Staging

The video showed Hamas operatives bringing a body bag from a building to a hole dug in the ground, covering it in dirt, and then digging it up using an excavator. Red Cross representatives arrived as the excavator dumped more dirt on the body bag. Hamas operatives then uncovered the body bag in front of them, with one seen taking pictures with his phone.

Family's Frustration and Outrage

Tzarfati’s family expressed their frustration, calling the incident “a wound that constantly reopens.” They stated, “Once again, deception has been inflicted upon our family as we try to heal.” The Prime Minister’s Office called it “a clear violation of the agreement” by Hamas.

Israel Considers Moving the Yellow Line

Israel is considering moving the so-called Yellow Line that divides Gaza in two, with the IDF taking control of more territory as a way of pressuring Hamas to hand over the bodies of additional hostages. The US is open to the proposal, according to reports.

Calls for Decisive Action

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum demanded a meeting with Netanyahu, accusing Hamas of violating the truce and calling on Israel to “act decisively.” Ruby Chen, the father of slain American-Israeli hostage soldier Itay Chen, criticized the agreement, saying, “Hamas has no incentive to transfer all the slain hostages to Israel.”

Far-Right Ministers Urge Destruction of Hamas

Far-right ministers urged Netanyahu to destroy Hamas, in a return to the two-year war. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted on X, “Now we don’t need to ‘exact a price from Hamas’ for the violations. We need to exact from it its very existence, and destroy it completely, once and for all.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded an urgent meeting of the security cabinet to discuss “forceful responses” to Hamas’s violations of the ceasefire.

Former PM Naftali Bennett Joins Calls

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, considered the most credible rival to Netanyahu in elections due next year, also called for the destruction of Hamas. “Hamas is a cancer. Hamas must be destroyed,” he said in a statement.