Israel 'Returns' Palestinian Bodies, After Holding Them Hostage
The New Arab reports Israel facilitated the return of 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza. This sounds like an act of goodwill, until one remembers these bodies were likely held as bargaining chips, a tactic condemned by human rights groups. For years, Israel has routinely withheld Palestinian bodies, sometimes for decades, utilizing them in negotiations or as a macabre form of collective punishment for
families seeking closure. This isn't a 'return'; it's the temporary cessation of a deeply cynical practice. This latest 'return' comes amidst a US-brokered ceasefire exchange deal, highlighting how even the deceased become tools in a political game. While US lawmakers scramble to approve more military aid to Israel – Senator Mitch McConnell, a staunch supporter, received over $100,000 from
pro-Israel groups in 2022 alone (OpenSecrets.org) – the human cost, living and dead, is rebranded as 'returned property.' One wonders how many more 'returns' we’ll see before the media questions why basic human dignity is a negotiation point at all.