Israel returns bodies of Palestinian militants to Gaza

The Israeli military delivered the bodies of 15 militants to the Palestinians for burial today, a handover celebrated in Gaza as the first real achievement of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who is trying to prevent militants from straying from a fragile truce.

The latest dividend of improved relations between Israel and the Palestinians came as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced that he would ask the Cabinet next week to formally serve notice of the government’s intention to withdraw from Gaza and four West Bank settlements.