The Israeli military said on Wednesday that one of the four bodies handed over by Hamas on Tuesday was not among the hostages held in Gaza. Forensic tests showed that the body “does not match any of the hostages,” the army said in a statement.

“Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages,” the Israeli military warned.

Hamas handed over four bodies on Tuesday to reduce tension around the fragile ceasefire. A day earlier, the group released the last 20 living hostages along with four bodies. Israel has been waiting for the return of 28 deceased hostages.

Ceasefire Brokered by Trump Faces Strain

Under the deal mediated by US President Donald Trump, Hamas agreed to release all living and dead hostages by Monday. The group has so far handed back 20 survivors and eight bodies — six Israelis, one Nepalese, and one unidentified person, AFP reported.

A hospital in Gaza said it received the remains of 45 Palestinians returned by Israel as part of the exchange.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Hamas to fulfill its commitments. “We will not compromise on this and will not stop our efforts until we return the last deceased hostage, until the last one,” Netanyahu said.

Previous Errors Add to the Tension

This is not the first time Hamas has returned the wrong body. Earlier this year, during another ceasefire, Hamas claimed to hand over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons. However, DNA tests revealed that one of the bodies was a Palestinian woman. Bibas’ real body was returned a day later.

Hamas Accuses Israel of Violating the Truce

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem said on Telegram that the group was working to return the hostages’ bodies as agreed. He accused Israel of breaking the truce by opening fire in eastern Gaza City and Rafah.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said the army was following the deployment rules set in the ceasefire. He warned that “anyone approaching the deployment line” would be targeted.

Families Mourn as Bodies Return

Two of the hostages whose bodies were released were buried on Wednesday. Families invited the public to accompany the body of one hostage from a forensic center to a cemetery north of Tel Aviv.

In previous funerals, thousands of Israelis have gathered silently along the roads, waving flags in tribute to the hostages.

Emotional Scenes on Both Sides

On Monday, Israelis celebrated the return of 20 living hostages, while Palestinians marked Israel’s release of around 2,000 prisoners under the first phase of the ceasefire.

However, families of the deceased hostages expressed frustration that only eight bodies have been returned so far. Of the four bodies handed over Tuesday, three were identified as Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi, and Eitan Levi.

Baruch was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Nimrodi, who worked with Israel’s defense body for humanitarian aid in Gaza, was taken from the Erez border crossing during the Hamas-led attack.