A Deal Violation
BREAKING: Terrorist in IDF Uniform Found Among Hostage Bodies
Hamas transferred bodies including a deceased Palestinian militant dressed in IDF uniform among Israeli hostage remains, raising tensions during ceasefire negotiations.
The process of receiving and identifying the remains of deceased hostages from Hamas under the terms of the recent ceasefire agreement has revealed a disturbing act of deception, with one of the bodies handed over identified not as an Israeli captive, but as a Gazan individual dressed in an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uniform.
The remains were part of a group of four bodies transferred from Gaza this week, a move intended to fulfill Hamas's commitment to return the bodies of slain hostages as part of the broader deal. Forensic examination at Israel's Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed the identities of three bodies as abducted Israelis: Eitan Levy, Uriel Baruch, and Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi.
However, security officials confirmed late Tuesday that the fourth body, which was initially believed to belong to another slain hostage, was determined to be a Palestinian from Gaza, suspected of being a terrorist who was killed during the fighting. The individual was reportedly clad in an IDF uniform.
A Pattern of Psychological Warfare
The inclusion of the Palestinian terrorist’s body within a transfer meant for Israeli families has been viewed by officials as a calculated act of psychological warfare and a direct violation of the spirit of the agreement.
"This is not the first time Hamas has attempted to mislead and inflict cruelty on grieving families," a security source told Hebrew media outlets, referencing an earlier instance in which Hamas delivered the body of a Palestinian civilian, claiming it was a missing Israeli hostage.
The use of an IDF uniform by a Gazan terrorist is a long-standing concern for Israeli security forces, often utilized to infiltrate military or civilian areas and create lethal confusion. The decision by Hamas to transfer this specific body alongside the remains of three verified hostages has been sharply condemned as a malicious tactic.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, while expressing deep sorrow and some measure of relief for the families of Levy, Baruch, and Nimrodi, is now expected to intensify its pressure on international mediators to demand a full accounting for the rest of the missing and deceased captives. The incident threatens to add new strain to the already fragile ceasefire and the ongoing negotiations regarding the full return of all remaining captives and bodies.