According to a report by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, tensions have flared once again between Israel and Hamas after the militant group reportedly returned the body of a Gazan resident dressed in an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) uniform instead of one of the fallen hostages during a handover on Tuesday.
According to Israeli officials, the body was among four transferred from Gaza to Israel under the ongoing ceasefire and hostage exchange framework. Initial examinations revealed that the remains belonged not to an Israeli hostage, but to a Gazan man believed to have been killed while fighting in the war.
Israeli security sources described the incident as a “serious breach” of the agreement brokered with Hamas, which required the militant group to return the remains of fallen Israeli hostages. “This appears to have been a mistake, though a deeply troubling one,” a senior official said. “The body was that of a Gazan wearing an IDF uniform, not a fallen hostage.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a firm response on Wednesday, Oct. 15, condemning the incident as a violation of commitments made before mediators, including the United States. “Hamas released a body that is not that of a fallen soldier,” the statement said. “Hamas must return all the fallen hostages. We will not compromise and will spare no effort until every one of the fallen is brought home.”
An Israeli government spokesperson told foreign correspondents that the mistaken transfer represents a direct breach of the ceasefire framework outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative. “This act constitutes a violation of the agreement reached with the involvement of President Trump’s administration,” he said. “Nevertheless, humanitarian aid committed by Israel to Gaza continues without interruption.”
The official reiterated that Israel remains committed to its humanitarian obligations even as it presses for full accountability from Hamas. “We are clear: Hamas must fulfill its commitment. Humanitarian aid has never been halted, but the return of all our fallen is non-negotiable,” the spokesperson added, directing further inquiries to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the IDF.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities confirmed that the remains of three hostages Uriel Baruch, Staff Sergeant Tamir Nimrodi, and Eitan Levi were successfully identified at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv early Wednesday morning.
Families of the fallen expressed both relief and renewed anguish, urging continued government pressure to ensure that every hostage and the remains of all deceased captives are returned. “Bringing them home brings peace to our families,” one relative said. “Only when their bodies rest in Israeli soil can we begin to heal.” See, More, Here>>>>
Leave a Reply