Gaza War: Israel hands over bodies of Palestinians to Hamas for burial

The bodies of many Palestinians who were killed by Israeli forces during the recent Gaza conflict were turned over to Palestinian authorities by Israel on Tuesday, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory. The bodies, which had been detained in Israel, were turned over through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is under Israeli control. According to officials, the dead will be interred in mass graves in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Although the number of bodies turned over was not immediately disclosed by Gaza’s health ministry, locals estimated that there were about 100 dead. According to Palestinian health officials, the bodies were those of Palestinians who had been slain by Israeli forces during their offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Prior to being transferred on Tuesday, their corpses had been dug up and carried to Israel. Israel refrained from responding to this claim right away. (With agency inputs)