Israeli army admits to digging up Gaza graves and taking bodies

The Israeli army has admitted that its soldiers dug up graves in the Gaza Strip. The military claimed  this was done to confirm that the bodies of captives were not buried.

“When critical intelligence or operational information is received, [the military] conducts precise hostage rescue operations in the specific locations where information indicates that the bodies of hostages may be located,” an army spokesperson was quoted as telling US outlet CNN. 

Once the bodies are determined not be those of the captives they are “returned with dignity and respect,” the Israeli military told CNN .

This process has not been independently verified and its not known whether Israel actually returns the bodies or what it does with Palestinians . Palestinian graveyards have been bulldozed and heavy military vehicles have been used to brutally exhume bodies, with some left in the open.