TEL AVIV: Israel on Tuesday criticised Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad for delaying the handover of a hostage body in Gaza, calling it a violation of the fragile ceasefire. The body, located by the group on Monday during search operations in central Gaza, is believed to belong to one of the last three hostages held by militants in the territory.
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A source within Islamic Jihad, speaking anonymously, confirmed the body’s identity. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the delay in the transfer of the deceased hostage was a serious breach of the ceasefire agreement. Israel demanded the immediate return of all three deceased hostages still in Gaza.
The US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, effective from October 10, originally involved militants holding 20 living hostages and 28 bodies of deceased captives. Since then, Hamas has released all living hostages and returned the remains of 25 deceased individuals in accordance with the ceasefire terms.
BREAKING: Islamic Jihad, the armed wing of the Palestinian group, the Quds Brigades, says it has located the body of a deceased captive in an area controlled by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.
LIVE updates: https://t.co/PJ1097BBzu pic.twitter.com/xFz9XR4gZZ
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 24, 2025
In exchange, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians killed in the conflict. The delay by Islamic Jihad is seen as a test for the already fragile ceasefire, raising concerns over its stability in the region.
PM Netanyahu:
In light of [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad’s announcement regarding the discovery of remains of a dead hostage, Israel views with great severity the delay in their immediate transfer to its custody.
This constitutes another violation of the agreement. Israel… pic.twitter.com/ib7Cgnz7FS
— One Jewish State (@onejewishstate) November 25, 2025
Israeli officials have stressed that such violations could jeopardise ongoing diplomatic efforts and undermine trust between the parties. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups continue to monitor the situation, urging all sides to ensure timely and respectful handling of the deceased.
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The incident highlights the continuing tensions in Gaza, even as both sides attempt to uphold the terms of the ceasefire and manage the humanitarian fallout from the recent conflict.