Netanyahu Commands Israeli Army to Launch Intense Strikes on Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that he has directed the Israeli army to initiate “powerful strikes” in Gaza. This decision places further strain on the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire currently in effect. The order comes amid rising tensions as Israel reported gunfire from Hamas on Israeli forces in southern Gaza. Additionally, Hamas recently returned remains of a hostage, which Israel claims violates the ceasefire agreement.
Ceasefire Under Threat
Netanyahu labeled the return of the remains as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire terms. According to these terms, Hamas is obligated to return all Israeli hostages’ remains without delay. The ceasefire, which began on October 10, has already shown signs of instability, especially following recent incidents in Rafah, where Israeli troops came under fire.
Hostages and Their Remains
Currently, there are still 13 hostages’ bodies unaccounted for in Gaza. Although Hamas announced plans to hand over one more body on Tuesday, these plans were abruptly halted. An Associated Press videographer in Khan Younis observed a body bag being removed from a tunnel by masked militants, but the contents of the bag remain unclear.
Challenges in Hostage Recovery
- The slow return of hostages’ remains complicates future negotiations on the ceasefire terms.
- Key issues include disarming Hamas, deploying an international security force, and establishing governance in Gaza.
- Hamas claims difficulty in locating bodies due to extensive destruction in Gaza.
- Israel accuses Hamas of intentionally delaying the return of remains.
Over the weekend, Egypt dispatched a team of experts and heavy equipment to assist in the search for the remaining hostages’ bodies. The search activities are continuing in Khan Younis and Nuseirat.
Previous Complications
This is not the first time the return of remains has stirred controversy since the ceasefire began. In the initial week of the ceasefire, Israel stated that one of the returned bodies belonged to an unidentified Palestinian rather than an Israeli hostage. In another incident during a prior ceasefire in February 2025, Hamas claimed to have returned bodies of three hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two sons. One body, however, was later confirmed to be that of a Palestinian woman, while Bibas’s body was returned a day later.
The situation remains tense as both sides navigate complex and contentious issues surrounding the ceasefire and the return of hostages.
