TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that the remains returned by Hamas are body parts of Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage previously recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza. This revelation raises concerns about the stability of the ongoing U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas is obligated to return all Israeli hostage remains promptly. Netanyahu labeled the return of Tzarfati's remains a “clear violation” of this agreement and stated he would hold an emergency meeting with top security officials to discuss Israel's response.

Israeli media reports suggest that potential responses could include halting humanitarian aid to Gaza, increasing Israeli control over the territory, or conducting airstrikes against Hamas leaders. Currently, there are still 13 bodies of hostages in Gaza, and the slow recovery of these remains complicates the next phases of the ceasefire, which will address more complex issues such as Hamas disarmament and the establishment of an international security force in Gaza.

Hamas has claimed it is struggling to locate the bodies due to extensive destruction in Gaza, while Israel accuses the group of intentionally delaying their return. Since the onset of the conflict, the Israeli military has recovered the remains of approximately 51 hostages.

Tzarfati was abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, at the Nova music festival, where nearly 400 people were killed and dozens taken hostage. He was killed in captivity, and his body was retrieved by Israeli troops in November 2023. His family expressed their anguish, stating, "This is the third time we have been forced to open Ofir’s grave and rebury our son." They described the return of his body parts as an “abhorrent manipulation.”

In a separate incident earlier Tuesday, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian militants during an operation in the northern West Bank. The Israeli police reported that the militants were shot as they exited a cave near Jenin, a known militant stronghold. The Israeli military stated that the militants were involved in terror activities but did not provide further details. Two militants were killed in the initial gunfire, while the third, who was wounded, died shortly after. An airstrike was also conducted to destroy the cave.

Hamas condemned the operation, identifying two of the deceased as members of its Qassam Brigades. The third was referred to as a “leader,” but no further information was provided.

The ceasefire, which began on October 10, has allowed for the exchange of remains. Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, with fewer than half identified. Recently, 41 unidentified bodies were buried in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, while a funeral was held in Israel for Yossi Sharabi, another hostage whose remains were returned earlier this month.

Egypt has deployed a team to assist in the search for remaining hostages' bodies, with efforts continuing in Khan Younis. The last 20 living hostages were returned to Israel at the start of the ceasefire, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom had been detained without charge. Among those released were 250 Palestinians with prison sentences for past attacks on Israelis.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 68,500 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its casualty counts. These records are generally considered reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts, although Israel disputes these figures without providing its own death toll.