Israel expected to release bodies of additional 20 terrorists for burial
According to the agreed-upon terms, the families have agreed to forego a public funeral march in order to receive the bodies.
By NOAM AMIR/MAARIV HASHAVUAUpdated: JANUARY 1, 2016 12:28Palestinian gunmen in Shuafat carry weapons during a funeral march for a Palestinian terrorist, shot dead by police after stabbing two Israelis in Jerusalem’s Old City(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
Israel authorities are expected to release on Friday the bodies of 20 Palestinian terrorists who were killed while carrying out terror attacks during the current wave of violence.On Thursday, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced it would release the bodies of eight terrorists, also killed while perpetrating acts of terror in the current wave of violence.According to the terms agreed under the framework of a "coordination mechanism," the families of those who will receive the bodies have committed to accept the bodies at night, and will forego a public march.This is set to be the largest number of bodies returned to the Palestinians since the establishment of the coordination mechanism. Many family members still refuse the terms set by Israel in exchange for the release of the bodies. The mechanism was created by the security establishment in an attempt to end the mass processions and funerals regularly accompanied by violence in what is known as a "festival of the martyr."Meanwhile, during the graduation ceremony for the IAF's new pilots attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon, the prime minister referred directly to the issue of securing the return of the bodies of soldiers killed by Hamas.Netanyahu began his speech by acknowledging the families of the late Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, saying "we are committed to returning your children home."Sources informed The Jerusalem Post's sister paper Ma'ariv of the details of the bodies set to be returned, however the security establishment decided not to publish the identities of the bodies at this stage.