'Israel' holds 1,700 Palestinian bodies as bargaining leverage
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Shin Bet, military back policy of retaining remains.
- Legal experts question authority to hold bodies.
- 'Israel' continues holding remains despite no captives.
'Israel' is holding the bodies of around 1,700 Palestinians for potential use in future prisoner exchanges, despite no 'Israeli' captives currently being held by Hamas, the Haaretz daily reported Monday.
Citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the newspaper reported that the figure was raised during recent internal discussions within 'Israel’s' security establishment.
According to the report, Shin Bet chief David Zini supports retaining the remains in case 'Israelis' are taken captive or go missing in the future, a position also backed by the 'Israeli' army.
Legal authority questioned
Haaretz reported that most of the bodies belong to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who took part in the October 7, 2023 war.
However, some of the remains belong to Palestinians who were not involved in the fighting.
Legal sources cited by the newspaper questioned 'Israel’s' legal authority to hold the remains, stating that the government lacks the power to retain the bodies of Palestinians with no proven involvement in fighting unless the Security Cabinet first establishes an explicit policy on the issue.
The report aligns with prior disclosures by human rights groups.
In October 2025, the Palestinian National Campaign for the Retrieval of Martyrs’ Bodies and Disclosure of the Fate of the Missing stated that 'Israel' was holding around 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza at the Sde Teiman military facility in southern 'Israel'.
Continued casualties
The report comes as the 'Israeli' army continues to target Palestinians in several areas of the Gaza Strip, despite an 'Israel'-Hamas ceasefire that went into effect on October 10, 2025.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, attacks since the ceasefire began have killed at least 1,258 Palestinians and injured 4,139 others.
Overall, 'Israel' has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000 in a genocidal war since October 2023.
The war has additionally caused widespread destruction across the enclave, affecting 90% of Gaza's infrastructure.
