Occupied Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled on Monday Israel would use the bodies of Palestinian fighters as bargaining chips to retrieve the remains of soldiers believed held by Hamas.
Israel blew up a tunnel last week, leaving at least 12 Palestinians dead. On Sunday, Israel announced it was in possession of the bodies of five of them, members of the Islamic Jihad.
Speaking at a ceremony in northern Israel on Monday, Netanyahu indicated Israel would seek to use the five bodies as part of a deal to receive the remains of two Israeli soldiers.
“We have a simple rule: Whoever attacks us, we attack them. Secondly, we don’t give free gifts,” Netanyahu said in remarks relayed by his office.
The remains of the Israeli occupation soldiers, killed in the 2014 Gaza war, are thought to still be in the coastal territory.
Two Israeli civilians, said to be mentally unstable, are also believed to have entered Gaza and to be held by Hamas.
Islamic Jihad said on Sunday it would take no part in any exchange deal.
Indirect negotiations led to a 2011 deal which saw Israel release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held for five years.
