Israel Returns Remains of 15 Gunmen
Thousands of Palestinians lined Gaza Strip roads to welcome home the remains of 15 gunmen handed over by Israel in a gesture to help Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas shore up a cease-fire.
The 15 were suicide bombers or gunmen shot dead in attacks on Jewish settlements or on Gaza’s border with Israel.
Israel had held the bodies as bargaining chips in case militants made good on threats to abduct soldiers, an Israeli security source said.
Militant chiefs hailed the gesture but demanded that Israel do more, including releasing thousands of prisoners and pulling back forces from occupied land.
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