Israel's willingness to exchange live prisoners for the bodies of deceased Israelis stems from a combination of cultural, religious, political, and social factors that shape its policies and public sentiment. Here’s an explanation of the key reasons:
Cultural and Religious Values
Jewish tradition strongly emphasises kavod hamet (honoring the dead) and pikuach nefesh (preservation of life).
Even in death, ensuring that Israeli soldiers or civilians are buried in their homeland according to Jewish customs is a deeply held value.
Judaism emphasizes communal responsibility, where every member of society is seen as part of a larger collective. This sense of duty extends to recovering the remains of soldiers and citizens.
"No One Left Behind" Policy: Israel has a deeply ingrained ethos of leaving no soldier behind, whether alive or deceased. This principle is reinforced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and widely supported by the public.
The state sees recovering the remains of its citizens as a moral duty to the families and a demonstration of the nation's commitment to its people.
Ensuring that every effort will be made to retrieve soldiers, even after death, is vital for maintaining trust and morale within the IDF.
Israeli society places immense pressure on the government to recover both hostages and the bodies of the deceased. Families of fallen soldiers often become highly vocal advocates, rallying public support.
Bringing fallen soldiers home is seen as reclaiming a measure of dignity and sovereignty, even in tragic circumstances.
By engaging in exchanges for bodies, Israel signals its commitment to the principle of leaving no one behind, even if the terms seem asymmetrical. This approach can also set precedents for future negotiations.
Such exchanges often involve international mediators (e.g., Egypt, Qatar, or the Red Cross), enabling Israel to strengthen diplomatic ties or leverage these relationships in broader negotiations.
Groups like Hamas and Hezbollah often exploit captured bodies as psychological leverage. By retrieving remains, Israel denies them a propaganda tool and provides closure to grieving families.
High-profile exchanges, though controversial, often unite the nation by demonstrating a collective commitment to shared values.
Historical Examples
Goldwasser and Regev (2008): Israel released five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Kuntar, in exchange for the remains of IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser.
Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul (2014): Efforts to recover the remains of these soldiers, killed in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge, have been ongoing, with the public and families pressuring the government to secure their return.
