The defense liaison to the Palestinians confirms that Israel is holding the remains of two Hamas gunmen who were shot dead as they opened fire on Israeli soldiers on Friday, and says Gazans won’t enjoy a restoration of calm until the bodies of Israelis are returned.
US President Donald Trump’s peace envoy Jason Greenblatt (L) tours a Hamas terror tunnel near the Gaza Strip with Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories Yoav Mordechai, on August 30, 2017. (COGAT Spokesperson’s Office)
Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai says that in total Israel is currently in possession of the bodies of 24 Palestinian terrorists who were killed since the 2014 Gaza war.
Palestinian media previously reported that the two slain Hamas members were in Israel’s custody, but the military would not confirm the claim until now.
On his Arabic-language Facebook page, the liaison writes that Israel will not return the bodies until Hamas hands over the remains of two fallen IDF soldiers and two live Israeli civilians.
“Israel will not rest and the residents of Gaza will not know peace until the Israelis are returned from the Gaza Strip and our soldiers will be brought for burial in Israel,” he writes.
— Judah Ari Gross
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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 1, 2018
