Ya’alon: No link between bodies of terrorists, remains of IDF soldiers held in Gaza

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon says there is “no connection” between Israel’s return of the corpses of Palestinian terrorists who perpetrated recent attacks and the bodies of the two Israeli soldiers held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since last summer’s war.

“There is no professional assessment that can tie the issue of returning the bodies of terrorists from the Jerusalem area and that of the bodies of the IDF soldiers held by Hamas in Gaza,” Ya’alon says, according to Hebrew media reports.

“Holding the bodies of terrorists in and of itself does not deter future potential assailants, unlike razing homes or revoking residency rights,” Ya’alon says, adding that there is proof these measures have a deterrent effect.

The issue has divided the Israeli leadership, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan coming out against the return of the remains and Ya’alon in favor, with the caveat that families of attackers forgo a large, public funeral.

The families of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul and 1st Lt. Hadar Goldin, two IDF soldiers whose bodies were stolen by Palestinians during last summer’s war against Hamas in Gaza, have called on the government to reverse its policy of returning the remains and to arrange an exchange.