Hamas delays handover of ‘Israeli’ captive’s body, citing ‘Israeli’ ceasefire violations

Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on Tuesday evening the postponement of the handover of the body of 'Israeli' captive Amiram Cooper, which had been scheduled for later tonight.

The group said the move came in response to what it described as violations by 'Israel' of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, the brigades warned that any further 'Israeli' escalation would obstruct ongoing search efforts for other remains and delay their recovery.

Sudden Postponement After Earlier Confirmation

The decision came unexpectedly, just hours after a senior resistance source confirmed that Cooper’s body had been located inside a tunnel north of Khan Younis, and that preparations were underway to transfer it.

According to the Qassam statement, the body of one of the 'Israeli' captives, believed to be Cooper, was recovered during search operations in a tunnel in southern Gaza.

“We have decided to postpone its handover, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation’s violations,” the statement said.

The group did not elaborate on the nature of those violations, but the announcement followed Israeli airstrikes on southern Gaza earlier in the day, reportedly carried out in response to the wounding of an Israeli soldier in Rafah.

Warning Against Further Escalation

In addition to delaying the handover, the Qassam Brigades issued a clear warning, saying that any renewed 'Israeli' aggression would impede excavation and recovery efforts for the remains of fallen soldiers.

“Any Zionist escalation will hinder excavation and recovery operations and delay the return of their bodies,” the statement warned, directly linking 'Israel’s' military actions to the pace of ongoing recovery efforts.

Discovery of Cooper’s Body

Earlier on Tuesday, a senior resistance figure told Al Jazeera that a Palestinian team had located Cooper’s remains inside a tunnel north of Khan Younis after an extended search operation. The team had reportedly begun preparations to extract the body for handover before the latest decision to postpone.

The development places renewed pressure on the “Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement” and presents another challenge for mediators seeking to preserve the fragile truce.