Hamas has said the return of the remaining bodies "may take some time" due to the destruction wrought in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday instructed the country's military to "carry out powerful strikes in Gaza," a statement from his office said, in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas.

An official of the Israel Defense Forces told NBC News that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for strikes in retaliation for a Hamas attack in Rafah.

Netanyahu’s far-right cabinet has called for harsh measures in response, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urging the re-arrest of Palestinians released in exchanges “in response to Hamas’s repeated and ongoing violations”. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the correct response was to “destroy [Hamas] completely”.

The Associated Press has analyzed a video released by Israel accusing Hamas of staging the discovery of remains of a hostage in Gaza.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Israel will not allow Turkish troops to take part in an international force the United States has proposed to oversee the ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Israel’s top diplomat said Monday.