Israel is holding the dead bodies of about 1,700 Palestinians as potential bargaining chips despite there being no Israeli hostages currently held by Palestinian armed groups, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported. According to the report, Shin Bet chief David Zini has urged Israel to retain the remains for possible use in future hostage negotiations, a position supported by the Israeli military. Legal sources cited by Haaretz argue that Israel lacks the authority to hold the remains of Palestinian non-combatants, as the decision is not backed by Security Cabinet policy. In July, Gisha reported that Israel "continues to hold the bodies of more than 100 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza who died in its custody", at least 68 of them Gaza residents. Palestinian ‘doctor of the poor’ says he faces abuse, medical neglect in Israeli prison Read More »Israel has long maintained a policy of seizing the bodies of Palestinians killed by its forces.