Jerusalem, 28 October, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The family of Ofir Tzarfati said they were shown video yesterday of Hamas digging a hole in Gaza, placing their son’s remains there, burying them, and then calling the Red Cross to witness the apparent retrieval. They called the act a “despicable” manipulation by the terror group. The announcement came shortly after officials confirmed that partial remains returned overnight belonged to Tzarfati, whose body was recovered by soldiers in 2023.
“We went to sleep tonight expecting and hoping that another family would close a two-year torturous circle and have their loved one returned for burial,” the family said. “But once again, there was a deception at the expense of our family as we try to recover.”
IDF reservists stationed in eastern Gaza City reported that Hamas operatives dug a hole before bringing out a body from a nearby building and placing it there. They then covered it with dirt and summoned the Red Cross to watch the body being “uncovered.” Army Radio said the entire incident was filmed by a military drone.
The Tzarfati family said they saw the video of the staged burial and retrieval and called it “a despicable manipulation designed to torpedo the deal and abandon the return of all the hostages.” “This is the third time that we have been forced to open Ofir’s grave and rebury our son. The circle supposedly closed in December 2023, but it never really closes. Since then, we have been living with the wound that keeps opening, between memory and longing, between bereavement and a sense of mission,” they said.
“Our Ofir went to Nova to celebrate his birthday and never returned. We ask all the people of Israel not to forget the fallen, not to forget the hostages, and to continue supporting the families until they return — that’s the only way we’ll have a future. That’s the only way we can continue to live in our country,” the family added.
Tzarfati, 27, was shot, wounded, and kidnapped by Gazan terrorists while trying to escape the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, along with others, including freed hostage Romi Gonen. The IDF confirmed his death on November 27 and announced that they had recovered his body from Gaza on December 1. Israeli forensics experts later confirmed that partial remains returned overnight by Hamas belonged to Tzarfati, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Tuesday.
“This constitutes a clear violation of the agreement by the Hamas terrorist organization,” Netanyahu’s office said. Tzarfati, an electrical engineering student at Ariel University, was celebrating his 27th birthday at the festival. His partner, Shoval Gal, said she and other friends survived the massacre because of Ofir’s actions and encouragement.
Netanyahu is set to convene the security cabinet to discuss responses to this and other Hamas violations of the ceasefire.
Around 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The remains of 13 hostages are still in Gaza.
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