Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday announced that Israel will no longer release terrorists’ bodies, regardless of which terrorist organization the person belonged to.
The decision came after consultations with senior security officials, Ynet reported. According to the new directive, exceptions to the policy will be at the defense minister’s discretion.
Israel’s Security Cabinet has not yet approved the new policy.
“The request for a change in policy was made by the family of Hadar Goldin [an IDF soldier whose body is being held in Gaza by Hamas] during their meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week,” said a senior security official according to the report. “Netanyahu expressed willingness to change the policy and instructed security authorities to look into the issue,” the official said.
Goldin’s family praised the move, stating, “We back the defense minister’s decision. It is inconceivable to continue releasing dead or living terrorists while [our] soldiers are held in Hamas’s hands.”