The fragile calm between the Israel and Hamas in Gauze seems to be under threat again. Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (28.10.2025) denounced a “ceasefire violation” after Hamas handed over a coffin purported to contain the remains of an Israeli hostage on Monday night.
However, according to Benjamin Netanyahuthe analyzes revealed that it was the body of Ofir Jarfati, an Israeli soldier who was killed on October 7, 2023 and whose body had already been recovered by Israeli forces two years ago in Gaza. Netanyahu stated that Israel “will respond” to what he sees as its provocation Hamasannouncing the convening of the National Security Council to decide “next steps”.
Hamas defends its position and cites the disasters
Responding to Israeli accusations, Hamas maintains it is abiding by the terms of a truce brokered this month by Washington. Its spokesman, Hazem Kassem, explained that locating the remains of the hostages is extremely difficult “due to the extent of the destruction in the Gaza Strip and the lack of identification equipment.”
The armed organization, he added, “continues in every possible way the efforts to deliver the remaining bodies as soon as possible.”
Internal pressures and the role of the USA
Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Netanyahu to take a tougher line against Hamas. But any military response would obviously need the green light from Washington, which brokered the truce that halted the fighting after two years of war. US President Donald Trump said he was monitoring the return of the bodies of the hostages from Hamas “very closely”.
Under the terms of the deal, Hamas must release all living hostages in exchange for the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces. The agency has also pledged to hand over the remains of all the dead hostages, but says it needs more time to locate them.