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How many Palestinian bodies is Isreal holding on to?
Executive summary
Available reporting gives multiple, differing figures for how many Palestinian bodies Israel is holding: several outlets cite about 360 held under the ceasefire terms (to be exchanged against Israeli remains) and other reporting and activist groups say Israeli forces are holding many hundreds to roughly 1,500 bodies at the Sde Teiman site or “cemeteries of numbers.” For example, Al Jazeera cites 360 Palestinian bodies tied to the exchange deal [1], while Haaretz and other reporting referenced in The Guardian and GlobalSecurity say roughly 1,500 bodies are at Sde Teiman [2] [3].
1. Two different figures driving public claims — deal numbers vs. holdings on the ground
Journalists and officials are using two distinct kinds of counts: the number of bodies designated in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire exchange (commonly reported as 360 Palestinian bodies to be handed over in phases) and separate reporting that Israeli facilities — notably the Sde Teiman military base — currently hold a much larger number, cited as roughly 1,500. Al Jazeera states the exchange was for 360 Palestinian bodies in return for Israeli remains [1]; The Guardian and other outlets report that Israeli media and some prison guard whistleblowers say roughly 1,500 Palestinian bodies are held at Sde Teiman [2].
2. What the ceasefire text and reported exchanges show
Coverage of the ceasefire frames the return process as phased and reciprocal: Hamas was to hand over Israeli bodies and living hostages while Israel would hand over Palestinian remains — widely reported as 15 Palestinian bodies released for each Israeli body or hostage in the first phase. Multiple outlets describe that arithmetic and the phased deliveries — the Guardian and Times reporting the 15-for-1 mechanism and media noting bodies already handed over under that formula [4] [5].
3. Reporting on bodies actually returned to Gaza
Gaza health authorities and media report incremental handovers: outlets cite that hundreds of Palestinian remains have been handed back since the ceasefire began, with specific tallies such as 270 or 330 returned by mid-November in different reports [3] [6]. These numbers document bodies delivered back to Gaza, not the total reportedly still held in Israeli facilities [3] [6].
4. The Sde Teiman figure: sources and limits
The assertion that about 1,500 bodies are held at the Sde Teiman military base appears in reporting that cites Israeli media, whistleblower testimony, and human rights groups; The Guardian references Israeli media and guard testimony naming Sde Teiman as holding nearly 1,500 bodies [2]. GlobalSecurity and Haaretz are also cited in other pieces as reporting similar figures [3]. These are investigative and media reports; available sources do not provide a single, independently verifiable inventory released by Israeli authorities in the material provided [2] [3].
5. Human-rights and advocacy tallies: broader context
Human-rights groups and organizations have produced other counts and allegations. Amnesty cites organizations saying at least 730 Palestinian bodies have been held by Israel as “bargaining chips” and also highlights large numbers of Palestinians in detention overall [7]. These figures are put forward in advocacy contexts and reflect different methods and aims than military accounting [7].
6. Why figures diverge — politics, secrecy, and methodology
The divergence stems from differing sources (ceasefire deal text and exchange tallies vs. investigative reporting and whistleblowers), incomplete transparency from state authorities, and differing definitions (bodies held specifically for exchange vs. all remains in military custody). Reporting notes that many returned bodies show signs of abuse, and that identification processes remain slow, further complicating counts [6] [3].
7. What is not in the provided reporting
Available sources do not include an official, comprehensive list published by Israeli authorities enumerating every Palestinian body in their custody; they also do not provide forensic confirmations for every claim about location or condition beyond selective returned remains and whistleblower testimony [2] [3]. Therefore absolute certainty is not available in current reporting.
8. Takeaway for readers
Two principal figures recur in reporting: the ceasefire-related exchange figure (commonly 360 Palestinian bodies designated in phases and the 15-for-1 mechanic noted in multiple outlets) and investigative/media claims that roughly 1,500 Palestinian bodies are held at Sde Teiman — both supported in the coverage but reflecting different scopes and sources [1] [2]. Readers should treat each number as answering a different question and note that independent verification and full official accounting are not present in the sources assembled here [2] [3].