Hamas holding body of IDF soldier

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon Sunday night told the family of IDF soldier Oron Shaul, whose body was not retrieved after he was killed during a battle in Gaza City’s Shejaiya area, that Israel is doing everything possible to bring Shaul’s body back to Israel.

According to a tweet by a reporter from Haaretz, Ya’alon said that Shaul’s body is in the hands of Hamas fighters in the Strip.

According to Egyptian media, Israel negotiated with Hamas for the return of body parts of soldiers Shaul and Hadar Goldin, in return for freeing Hamas captives from the past few weeks.

Israel’s Channel 2 said reports indicate Israel would return eight bodies and some 15 captured Hamas gunmen. Israeli officials were later quoted as denying the reports, and branding them psychological warfare.