Israel is reportedly holding approximately 1,700 bodies of Palestinians, with plans to use them as leverage in future negotiations for the return of Israeli hostages or missing persons.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing sources within security agencies, confirmed that both the internal intelligence service Shin Bet (Shabak) and the Israeli military support this policy. The majority of the deceased are identified as Gaza residents allegedly involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks and subsequent military clashes, though the list reportedly includes individuals with no connection to military operations.
The practice of withholding remains has long been a point of contention in the region. Legal experts have raised concerns regarding the legality of detaining remains of individuals not proven to be combatants, noting that the Israeli Security Cabinet has not issued a formal, principled decision on the matter. The issue gained renewed attention following reports from the National Campaign for Determining the Fate of Missing Palestinians and Recovering Bodies, which indicated that as of October 2025, the Israeli military was holding approximately 1,500 bodies at the Sde Teiman detention facility. The latest figures suggest this number has risen to 1,700.
