LEVERAGE

Israel to Withhold Bodies of Hamas Militants

In bid to get civilians and soldiers returned.

Israel announced a new policy for dealing with Hamas militants on Sunday, saying the bodies of militants killed in clashes will be buried rather than returned. “The security cabinet discussed ways to effect the return of fallen soldiers and of civilians held in the Gaza Strip ... and decided that (the bodies of militants) should be buried, rather than returned,” a statement from Israel’s security cabinet said. The new policy is aimed at gaining leverage over the group in a bid to get the militants to hand over missing civilians and the bodies of killed soldiers. Hamas says it is currently holding two Israeli soldiers who were declared dead after going missing in 2014. In addition, the group says it has the bodies of two Israeli civilians. The Israeli side previously returned militants’ bodies, having given back for burial 102 bodies in 2016, the Israeli army said. Now, however, the bodies will immediately be buried and exhumed later only if Hamas militants are willing to make concessions.