JERUSALEM (Sputnik) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Russia on Thursday for its readiness to provide assistance in liberation of Israeli civilians from the Gaza Strip and return of bodies of the dead Israeli soldiers.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu held a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
"I would like to thank you for your readiness to assist in the matter of a primary humanitarian significance — return of the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, as well as three civilian captives from Gaza," Netanyahu said at a meeting with Medvedev as quoted by the government press service.
Israeli authorities believe that Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip may try to exchange the Israeli kidnapped nationals for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, including those charged with terrorism offenses.
