Tel Aviv

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the remains of a hostage returned by Hamas overnight are body parts of a hostage who was recovered in Gaza by Israeli troops almost two years ago.

The Israeli military recovered the bodies of some 51 hostages during the two years of the Israel-Hamas war in the coastal territory.

Netanyahu called the return of body parts a “clear violation” of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement by Hamas.

There are still 13 bodies of hostages in Gaza, and the slow recovery of those remains is posing a challenge to implementing the next stages of the ceasefire.

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Hamas has said it is struggling to locate the bodies amid the vast destruction in Gaza, while Israel has accused the militant group of purposely delaying their return.