Hamas has been accused of breaching the Gaza ceasefire agreement after returning partial remains of a previously recovered hostage instead of the body of another deceased captive, as required under the terms of the deal with Israel.

According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Hamas handed over what it claimed was the 16th of 28 hostage bodies agreed to be returned under the US-brokered ceasefire that began on October 10. However, Israeli forensic analysis confirmed that the remains belonged to Ofir Tzarfati, whose body had already been recovered from Gaza about two years ago.

Netanyahu’s office condemned the move as a “clear violation of the agreement” and said the prime minister would meet with security chiefs to determine Israel’s response. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also urged the government to act decisively, saying Hamas “continues to deceive the United States and mediators while dishonouring our loved ones.”

Israel’s far-right ministers called for harsh retaliation. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Hamas’s actions proved the group was “still standing,” adding, “It is time to break its legs once and for all.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich similarly accused Hamas of “repeated and ongoing violations” and demanded that Israel re-arrest all militants released under the hostage deal.

In response, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denied the accusations, saying the group did not know the exact locations of all missing bodies because Israel’s bombardment had rendered many areas unrecognisable. “We are determined to hand over the bodies of the Israeli captives as soon as possible,” he said.

Hamas has already returned all 20 living hostages as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel left 1,221 people dead, mostly civilians, and 251 taken hostage. Since then, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have killed more than 68,000 people, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations regards as generally reliable. Despite the truce, 94 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began.

The family of Ofir Tzarfati confirmed that new remains belonging to him were returned to Israel on Monday night, the third time his body has been disturbed since his initial burial. “This is the third time we have been forced to open Ofir’s grave and rebury our son,” the family said. “The circle supposedly closed back in December 2023, but it never truly closes.”

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Iran has demanded a $170 million fine from the owner of a cargo ship it seized in Gulf waters last year, accusing the company of having links to Israel. The Revolutionary Guards, the military arm of Iran’s regime, intercepted the MSC Aries in April 2024 and detained its 25 international crew members.

At the time, Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA reported that the Portuguese-flagged vessel was “managed by Zodiac, which belongs to the Zionist capitalist Eyal Ofer.”

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Tuesday, October 28, that charges had been filed and the case was before the courts, though no trial date had yet been set. “A fine of $170 million has been demanded against its owner, of Israeli origin, accused of financing terrorism,” Jahangir said.

The United States condemned the seizure at the time, calling it an act of piracy and demanding the release of the crew. Israel’s foreign minister also urged the European Union to classify Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a “terrorist organisation” in response.

According to Jahangir, the ship, excluding its cargo, is valued at $170 million. He further claimed that Eyal Ofer, an Israeli billionaire and shipping magnate, was an “influential figure” within the Israeli government.

The vessel’s seizure occurred amid escalating tensions linked to the Gaza war, which began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel and has since drawn in Iran-backed militant groups across the region.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during Tuesday’s plenary session.

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm his newly appointed Service Chiefs.

The request includes the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during Tuesday’s plenary session. In the correspondence, Tinubu urged the Senate to give “expeditious consideration” to the appointments.

The request was subsequently referred to the Committee of the Whole for screening and confirmation of the nominees next week.

A few days earlier, President Tinubu had reshuffled the military hierarchy, removing General Christopher Musa and appointing Oluyede, a former Chief of Army Staff, as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye was retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

According to presidential aide Sunday Dare, the shake-up was part of the government’s effort to “strengthen the national security architecture.” He added that all appointments “take immediate effect.”

However, the move has drawn criticism from the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), which urged the president to explain the motive behind the reshuffle. “Our position remains, therefore, that the Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what truly happened,” said Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesman.

“As an opposition political party, our interest remains the stability of our country and our democracy. In the light of developments in our neighbourhood of Chad and the Sahel States, we are gravely concerned,” the statement added.

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