IDF: Hamas Undermines Ceasefire Deal After Handing Over Wrong Body

The Israeli military said Wednesday that one of the four bodies Hamas returned to Israel on Tuesday night was not a hostage.

The Israel Defense Forces said three of the bodies were those of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, but the fourth “does not match any of the hostages.” The military did not say whether the fourth body had been identified.

“Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages,” the IDF posted on X. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called for Hamas to return the remaining bodies. 

“The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them,” his office said. 

The other three bodies were identified as Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, and Eitan Levi. 

“SSGT Tamir Nimrodi was kidnapped alive and was killed while in captivity at the age of 18. Uriel Baruch was killed during the Oct. 7 Massacre and his body was kidnapped into Gaza. Eitan Levi was killed during the Oct. 7 Massacre and his body was kidnapped into Gaza. May their memories be a blessing,” the IDF said on X.

Netanyahu said the three bodies returned — and all deceased hostages — would be given proper burials in Israel.

“The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Baruch, Nimrodi, and Levy families, and all the families of the fallen hostages,” he said. “The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country.”

In response to Hamas’s handling of the hostage release, Israel told the United Nations it would reduce the number of daily aid trucks entering Gaza from 600 to 300, Reuters reported. It’s unclear when or if the change will take effect.

“Hamas violated the agreement regarding the release of the bodies of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip. As a result, the political leadership has decided to impose a number of sanctions related to the humanitarian agreement that was reached,” the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), an Israeli Ministry of Defense unit, wrote.

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On Monday, the final 20 living hostages were released by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of prisoners released by Israel under the terms of a ceasefire. The exchange was the first part of an agreement between Israel and Hamas negotiated by President Donald Trump. 

Part of the plan includes Hamas agreeing to disarm and give up control over Gaza. After Israel pulled back troops in accordance with the agreement, Hamas publicly executed at least seven men in Gaza accused of working with Israeli forces.

“They’re going to disarm because they said they were going to disarm,” Trump said Tuesday. “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.”

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