Following the destruction of a Gaza terror tunnel by the IDF that straddled the Gaza-Israel border, members of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad requested that Israel release the bodies of the terrorists from the tunnel itself. The request came via the Red Cross who officially petitioned the IDF and Israeli government to make the release. However, Israel has refused the request.

Major General in charge of COGAT, the unit tasked with the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, Yoav Mordechai said: “We will not allow for the locating and exhuming of the bodies of the terrorists buried in the exploded tunnel, without some progress in reclaiming the imprisoned and missing IDF soldiers.”

Mordechai spoke with the head of the International Red Cross mission in Israel, Jacques De Maio, and clarified that Israel will not allow for a search operation to take place within the security perimeter surrounding the Gaza Strip without said progress being made.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad are holding an emergency meeting tonight to discuss how to respond to Israel’s refusal. Israel is monitoring the outcome of the meeting as it is suspected to lead to an increase in violence in the southern region surrounding the Gaza Strip.