World Bulletin / News Desk

Israel has handed Palestinian authorities the bodies of nine Palestinians killed carrying out attacks on its soldiers and civilians, the army said on Friday.

Five of the bodies were those of Palestinians from the flashpoint city of Al Khalili in the occupied West Bank, an army spokeswoman said.

They were returned a week after Israel handed Palestinian authorities the bodies of seven other Palestinians.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, claims Israeli authorities however the majority were shot dead by Israeli army attacks while some died in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Since the start of the violence, Israeli forces have confiscated the bodies of killed Palestinians, often for several months, as a means of deterrence and to prevent clashes during funerals.

Under former defence minister Moshe Yaalon, the army had started to return the bodies of Palestinians not affiliated with armed groups.