Israel Withholding 1,700 Palestinian Bodies for Potential Exchange Deals

Israel is holding the bodies of around 1,700 Palestinians for potential use in future prisoner or hostage exchange deals, despite no Israeli captive currently being held by Hamas, according to Haaretz.

The figure reportedly increased during recent discussions among senior Israeli leaders. Israel has maintained a long-standing policy of retaining Palestinian bodies killed by its forces in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the practice and called for the remains to be returned to their families. While Israeli law permits the retention of Palestinian bodies, international humanitarian law requires the dead to be treated with dignity and, where possible, buried according to their religious rites.