Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered military operations in Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating a ceasefire agreement.
According to Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, Netanyahu directed the Israeli military to carry out immediate and intense strikes in Gaza. It was not specified when or which areas would be targeted.
The Israeli government says the operations are a response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas; Israel claims Hamas has not yet returned the bodies of 13 captives who remain in Gaza.
Hamas, however, says recovering the captives’ bodies requires ground assistance, specialist teams, and heavy machinery, because thousands of buildings in Gaza lie buried under rubble.
Sources say mediators — as well as Israeli and U.S. officials — are aware that extracting all bodies from Gaza’s devastated areas is an extremely difficult and time-consuming task.
Netanyahu’s office further stated that the coffin handed over by Hamas on Monday did not contain the remains of any other hostage.
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