Netanyahu says remains returned by Hamas are of a hostage previously retrieved in Gaza

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that body parts returned by Hamas overnight were the partial remains of a hostage previously recovered in Gaza by Israeli troops almost two years ago, an announcement that threatened to rattle the tenuous, U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu called the return a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement, which requires Hamas to return all Israeli hostage remains as soon as possible. He said he will convene top security officials for an emergency discussion on Tuesday afternoon to weigh Israel’s response.

Israeli media said Netanyahu’s likely options include halting the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, expanding Israeli control of Gaza or carrying out airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders.

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, which will address even knottier issues, such as the disarmament