Jerusalem: The latest coffin handed over to Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas contained the remains of an Israeli hostage whose body was recovered by the military almost two years ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced. The family of Ofir Tzarfati has been informed that additional remains were returned.

According to Ghana News Agency, Tzarfati was abducted from the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, and was later declared dead. The Israeli military reported in December 2023 that Tzarfati’s remains had been brought back to Israel, where he was subsequently buried. However, Israeli media noted that the remains handed over on Monday evening did not belong to a missing hostage.

The remains were subjected to forensic examination upon their arrival in Israel. Netanyahu’s office released a statement condemning Hamas for violating the agreement by returning these remains, which was not part of the terms agreed upon. The statement also mentioned that the prime minister would hold talks with security officials to deliberate on Israel’s response to this development.

As part of the first phase of the US-led peace plan between Israel and Hamas, Hamas is obligated to return a total of 28 bodies. With these latest remains, 13 hostages’ bodies are still in Gaza. Hamas had released all living hostages on October 13 in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.