Video captured by an Israeli drone, appearing to show Hamas personnel faking the recovery of a deceased hostage, has put the terrorist group in a compromised position.
The Israel Defense Forces released the footage on Tuesday, showing individuals carrying a body in a white sheet, burying it in dirt, and then “discovering” the remains in front of members of the Red Cross.
“Contrary to Hamas’s claims of difficulties locating the bodies of the deceased hostages, yesterday Hamas operatives were documented removing body remains from a structure that had been prepared in advance and burying them nearby,” the IDF said.
It continued, “Shortly thereafter, the Hamas terror organization summoned representatives of the Red Cross and staged a false display of discovering a deceased hostage’s body.”
The IDF’s report follows a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office, which said the partial remains actually belonged to a deceased hostage who was returned.
“Following the completion of the identification process, it was found that last night, remains belonging to fallen hostage Ofir Tzarfati — of blessed memory, who was returned from the Gaza Strip in a military operation about 2 years ago — were returned. His family was notified,” the prime minister’s office said.
“This constitutes a clear violation of the agreement by the Hamas terrorist organization,” the office continued. “Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold a security discussion with the heads of the security establishment to discuss Israel’s steps in response to the violations.”
Israel said Hamas has access to at least several of the bodies belonging to the last 13 dead hostages in the Gaza Strip.
The Jewish nation accused Hamas leaders of intentionally dragging their feet on repatriation of the remains and staging the “discovery” in front of the Red Cross to buy more time.
It has infuriated the most bellicose members of Netanyahu’s Cabinet, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who issued a statement urging the prime minister to rearrest “all the terrorists who were released in the hostage deal.”
However, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem emphasized that the terrorist group is doing its best to meet the demands made of it.
“Hamas will continue to exert every effort possible to hand over the remaining bodies until this issue is fully concluded and as soon as possible,” Qassem said.
Following outcry in Israel over the alleged attempt to dupe officials, Hamas said Tuesday night it will return “the body of a hostage that was recovered a short time ago from one of the tunnels in the Gaza Strip.”
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The identity of the hostage to be returned has not been made known.
As part of the Gaza peace plan, Israel has released 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazan residents who were detained following the Oct. 7 attacks.
