Netanyahu orders ‘powerful strikes' on Gaza after ceasefire breaches, Hamas delays hostage body handover

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to “carry out immediate and powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip,” according to a Times of Israel report, citing his office, following a meeting on Israel’s response to repeated breaches of the Gaza ceasefire.

The directive comes after IDF troops were attacked in southern Gaza and amid rising Israeli anger over further Hamas violations, including the return of hostages’ bodies.

“Following security consultations, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military to immediately carry out powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip," read the statement.

Meanwhile, Hamas’s armed wing said it was postponing the handover of another hostage body scheduled for Tuesday evening after what it called Israeli “violations” of the US-brokered ceasefire.

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“We will postpone the handover that was scheduled for today due to the occupation’s violations,” AFP quoted the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades as saying in a statement, adding that any Israeli “escalation will hinder the search, excavation, and recovery of the bodies”.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hamas said it would hand over another hostage’s body, following accusations that the group violated the Gaza ceasefire by returning only partial remains of a previously recovered captive.

Late Monday, the militant group handed over what it claimed was the 16th of 28 hostage bodies agreed upon under the ceasefire that took effect on October 10. However, Israeli forensic experts determined that the remains were those of Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage whose body had already been returned about two years ago.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the move a “clear violation of the agreement,” while Israeli officials and a group representing the hostages’ families said the incident directly contravened the truce terms.

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Hamas’s armed wing later announced plans to deliver the remains of another hostage at 1800 GMT on Tuesday. Netanyahu’s office said he would convene security chiefs to decide on further steps in response to the breach.

The US-brokered ceasefire was intended to halt hostilities between Israel and Gaza, but tensions remain high as both sides trade accusations of violations.

With inputs from agencies