Israeli Cabinet issues decision to withhold bodies of seven Palestinians from 1948-occupied territories

RAMALLAH: The Israeli Ministerial Council for Political and Security Affairs (the Cabinet) decided today to withold the bodies of seven Palestinians from the 1948-occupied territories, including the body of Walid Daqqa. Israeli reports stated that the Cabinet decided to withold the bodies of at least seven people as a bargaining chip for the purposes of a future prisoner exchange. The Prime Minister of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his Minister of Security, Yoav Galant, did not expressed their rejection regarding the decision, which is considered an adoption of the position of the extremist Minister of National Security, Ben Gvir. According to what was reported in the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" via its website, quoting legal sources, there is a problem with the decision, "as Israeli security sources are divided" regarding it. According to the website, Israeli security officials saw the need to postpone the decision to another date. Last month, a session was held to discuss an appeal by a student requesting the release of the body of Walid Daqqa in the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA