2 jan 2016
Three Palestinians were buried in Hebron-area villages after their bodies were returned by Israeli authorities the night before.
They were among 23 bodies to be released by Israeli authorities Friday of Palestinians killed while suspected for carrying out attacks on Israeli military and civilians.
In the town of Sair, mourners marched in the funeral of Fadi Hassan al-Froukh, who was killed by Israeli soldiers on Nov. 1 during clashes at the Beit Einun crossroads in eastern Hebron.
The Israeli army said at the time of his death that al-Froukh had attempted to stab an Israeli soldier when forces opened fire and killed the young man.
Residents of Sair were accompanied by Palestinians from surrounding villages in the funeral procession, repeating national slogans calling for unity and demanding the Palestinian leadership to respond to Israeli violations.
In the town of Beit Ula west of Hebron, Palestinian locals took part in the funeral of Hamzeh Moussa al-Imla, who was killed on Oct. 20 after the Israeli army said he injured two soldiers in a vehicular attack at the Gush Etzion junction.
Meanwhile clashes erupted in the town of Beit Ummar north of Hebron following a funeral held for Omar Zaaqiq, 19, who was killed Nov. 27 after running his vehicle into a group of Israeli soldiers stationed in the town, moderately injuring four.
After mourners marched in a funeral procession and buried Zaaqiq’s body in the local cemetery, hundreds of Palestinian youths throw rocks at Israeli soldiers, a local activist Muhammad Ayyad told Ma’an.
Ayyad said that 12 were shot by rubber-coated steel bullets, including two in the head.
Ahmad Mahmoud Ayyad Awad, 29, was injured in the head and was taken by a Red Crescent ambulance to a hospital in Hebron with moderate injuries. Abd al-Rahman al-Allami, 57, was also hit in the head but treated on site.
Awad told Ma'an that ambulances also carried several others to the medical center with light injuries.
Israeli soldiers reportedly closed the entrance to Beit Ummar and deployed on the rooftops of local homes during clashes.
An Israeli army spokesperson did not have immediate information on the incident.
They were among 23 bodies to be released by Israeli authorities Friday of Palestinians killed while suspected for carrying out attacks on Israeli military and civilians.
In the town of Sair, mourners marched in the funeral of Fadi Hassan al-Froukh, who was killed by Israeli soldiers on Nov. 1 during clashes at the Beit Einun crossroads in eastern Hebron.
The Israeli army said at the time of his death that al-Froukh had attempted to stab an Israeli soldier when forces opened fire and killed the young man.
Residents of Sair were accompanied by Palestinians from surrounding villages in the funeral procession, repeating national slogans calling for unity and demanding the Palestinian leadership to respond to Israeli violations.
In the town of Beit Ula west of Hebron, Palestinian locals took part in the funeral of Hamzeh Moussa al-Imla, who was killed on Oct. 20 after the Israeli army said he injured two soldiers in a vehicular attack at the Gush Etzion junction.
Meanwhile clashes erupted in the town of Beit Ummar north of Hebron following a funeral held for Omar Zaaqiq, 19, who was killed Nov. 27 after running his vehicle into a group of Israeli soldiers stationed in the town, moderately injuring four.
After mourners marched in a funeral procession and buried Zaaqiq’s body in the local cemetery, hundreds of Palestinian youths throw rocks at Israeli soldiers, a local activist Muhammad Ayyad told Ma’an.
Ayyad said that 12 were shot by rubber-coated steel bullets, including two in the head.
Ahmad Mahmoud Ayyad Awad, 29, was injured in the head and was taken by a Red Crescent ambulance to a hospital in Hebron with moderate injuries. Abd al-Rahman al-Allami, 57, was also hit in the head but treated on site.
Awad told Ma'an that ambulances also carried several others to the medical center with light injuries.
Israeli soldiers reportedly closed the entrance to Beit Ummar and deployed on the rooftops of local homes during clashes.
An Israeli army spokesperson did not have immediate information on the incident.
Thousands of mourners flooded the streets of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron to attend the joint funeral of 14 Palestinians whose bodies were returned by Israel the night before.
The bodies were among 23 handed over by Israeli authorities on Friday night, 17 to the Hebron area, in line with a decision made by Israeli officials to withhold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis.
The bodies were carried on the shoulders of their families to the al-Hussein Ibn Ali mosque in city center, where funeral prayers took place. Thousands collectively performed the prayer inside the adjacent al-Hussein football stadium and across city streets, locals told Ma’an.
The procession then marched through Ein Sarah street before reaching the al-Shuhahda (Martyrs) Cemetery, where the 14 were laid to rest.
Elderly participants present told Ma’an they had never before attended a funeral for such a large number of slain Palestinians.
The thousands of mourners attending the funeral shouted slogans as the bodies were carried through the streets, condemning Israel’s conditional releases of the bodies of Palestinians.
Israeli authorities began holding the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military or civilians in October.
The practice has not been used with such frequency since the Second Intifada, according to rights group Hamoked, with the bodies of over 80 Palestinians held for various periods of time since the October decision.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Nov. 5 that bodies would be handed over conditionally, with Israeli authorities often demanding that the bodies be buried immediately following their handover and that funerals be limited in attendance.
While the decision to withhold bodies was initially made to prevent mass funerals that “incite” violence against Israel, Yaalon said on Nov. 5. that the policy was not effective in deterring future attacks.
The policy of withholding bodies has sparked outrage among Palestinian communities who view the measure as collective punishment and a violation of their ability to abide by religious tradition. Some families also fear the move could prevent autopsies from being carried out on their relative’s body.
Palestinian leadership has encouraged autopsies be carried out on all Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the event that the reports could be used to file cases against Israeli authorities at the International Criminal Court.
The bodies of the Hebron-area Palestinians returned Friday underwent autopsy following their handover, according to Hebron’s District Attorney.
They were among over 140 Palestinians to be killed since Oct. 1 by Israeli forces and settlers. The majority were killed while carrying out attacks, the circumstances of many of which are still disputed.
Twenty-one Israelis have been killed in individual Palestinian attacks during the same time period.
A list of the 17 Hebron-area Palestinians whose bodies were returned Friday:
1. Basil Bassam Ragheb Sidr, 20: Shot dead on Oct. 14 after alleged stabbing at the Damascus gate in Jerusalem’s Old city, no Israeli injuries reported.
2. Fadil Abdullah Qawasmi, 18: Shot by Israeli settler on Oct. 17 after allegedly attempting to stab the settler on al-Shuhada street in Hebron’s Old City.
3. Hamzeh Moussa al-Imla, 25: Shot on Oct. 20 after carrying out a vehicular attack that injured two Israeli soldiers at the Gush Etzion junction.
4. Saad Muhammad Youssef al-Atrash, 19: Shot on Oct. 26 after attempting to stab a soldier at the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron’s Old City.
5 Shadi Nabil al-Qudsi, 22: Shot on Oct. 27 after reportedly stabbing and injuring an Israeli soldier at the Gush Etzion junction.
6. Izz al-Din Nadi Abu Shkheidem, 19: Shot on Oct. 27 after reportedly stabbing and injuring an Israeli soldier at the Gush Etzion junction.
7. Humaam Adnan al-Saeed, 23: Shot on Oct. 27 in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron’s Old City after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier.
8. Islam Rafiq Hammad Ibeido, 23: Shot on Oct. 28 after reportedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier near the illegal Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron.
9. Mahdi Muhammad al-Muhtaseb, 23: Shot on Oct. 29 after stabbing and injuring an Israeli soldier near the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron’s Old City.
10. Farouq Abd al-Qadir Sider, 19: Shot on Oct. 19 after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier in al-Shuhada street in Hebron’s Old City.
11. Fadi Hassan al-Froukh: Shot on Nov. 1 after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier in Beit Einun near Hebron.
12. Malik Talal al-Shareef, 25: Shot on Nov. 5 after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier at the Gush Etzion junction.
13. Mustafa Fadhil Fanoon, 15: Shot on Dec. 4 after reportedly stabbing and moderately wounding an Israeli soldier in Hebron’s Tel Rumeida area.
14. Ibah Fathi Miswadeh, 21: Shot on Dec. 7 after stabbing an Israeli settler outside of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old city.
15. Omar Arafat Issa al-Zaaqiq, 19: Shot on Nov. 27 after injuring two soldiers in vehicular attack in Beit Ummar north of Hebron.
16. Taher Faysal Fannoun, 19: Shot on Dec. 4 after reportedly stabbing and moderately wounding an Israeli soldier in Hebron’s Tel Rumeida area.
17. Abd al-Rahman Miswadeh: Shot on Dec. 7 after stabbing and injuring two Israelis in Hebron’s Old City.
The bodies were among 23 handed over by Israeli authorities on Friday night, 17 to the Hebron area, in line with a decision made by Israeli officials to withhold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis.
The bodies were carried on the shoulders of their families to the al-Hussein Ibn Ali mosque in city center, where funeral prayers took place. Thousands collectively performed the prayer inside the adjacent al-Hussein football stadium and across city streets, locals told Ma’an.
The procession then marched through Ein Sarah street before reaching the al-Shuhahda (Martyrs) Cemetery, where the 14 were laid to rest.
Elderly participants present told Ma’an they had never before attended a funeral for such a large number of slain Palestinians.
The thousands of mourners attending the funeral shouted slogans as the bodies were carried through the streets, condemning Israel’s conditional releases of the bodies of Palestinians.
Israeli authorities began holding the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military or civilians in October.
The practice has not been used with such frequency since the Second Intifada, according to rights group Hamoked, with the bodies of over 80 Palestinians held for various periods of time since the October decision.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Nov. 5 that bodies would be handed over conditionally, with Israeli authorities often demanding that the bodies be buried immediately following their handover and that funerals be limited in attendance.
While the decision to withhold bodies was initially made to prevent mass funerals that “incite” violence against Israel, Yaalon said on Nov. 5. that the policy was not effective in deterring future attacks.
The policy of withholding bodies has sparked outrage among Palestinian communities who view the measure as collective punishment and a violation of their ability to abide by religious tradition. Some families also fear the move could prevent autopsies from being carried out on their relative’s body.
Palestinian leadership has encouraged autopsies be carried out on all Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the event that the reports could be used to file cases against Israeli authorities at the International Criminal Court.
The bodies of the Hebron-area Palestinians returned Friday underwent autopsy following their handover, according to Hebron’s District Attorney.
They were among over 140 Palestinians to be killed since Oct. 1 by Israeli forces and settlers. The majority were killed while carrying out attacks, the circumstances of many of which are still disputed.
Twenty-one Israelis have been killed in individual Palestinian attacks during the same time period.
A list of the 17 Hebron-area Palestinians whose bodies were returned Friday:
1. Basil Bassam Ragheb Sidr, 20: Shot dead on Oct. 14 after alleged stabbing at the Damascus gate in Jerusalem’s Old city, no Israeli injuries reported.
2. Fadil Abdullah Qawasmi, 18: Shot by Israeli settler on Oct. 17 after allegedly attempting to stab the settler on al-Shuhada street in Hebron’s Old City.
3. Hamzeh Moussa al-Imla, 25: Shot on Oct. 20 after carrying out a vehicular attack that injured two Israeli soldiers at the Gush Etzion junction.
4. Saad Muhammad Youssef al-Atrash, 19: Shot on Oct. 26 after attempting to stab a soldier at the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron’s Old City.
5 Shadi Nabil al-Qudsi, 22: Shot on Oct. 27 after reportedly stabbing and injuring an Israeli soldier at the Gush Etzion junction.
6. Izz al-Din Nadi Abu Shkheidem, 19: Shot on Oct. 27 after reportedly stabbing and injuring an Israeli soldier at the Gush Etzion junction.
7. Humaam Adnan al-Saeed, 23: Shot on Oct. 27 in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron’s Old City after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier.
8. Islam Rafiq Hammad Ibeido, 23: Shot on Oct. 28 after reportedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier near the illegal Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron.
9. Mahdi Muhammad al-Muhtaseb, 23: Shot on Oct. 29 after stabbing and injuring an Israeli soldier near the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron’s Old City.
10. Farouq Abd al-Qadir Sider, 19: Shot on Oct. 19 after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier in al-Shuhada street in Hebron’s Old City.
11. Fadi Hassan al-Froukh: Shot on Nov. 1 after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier in Beit Einun near Hebron.
12. Malik Talal al-Shareef, 25: Shot on Nov. 5 after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier at the Gush Etzion junction.
13. Mustafa Fadhil Fanoon, 15: Shot on Dec. 4 after reportedly stabbing and moderately wounding an Israeli soldier in Hebron’s Tel Rumeida area.
14. Ibah Fathi Miswadeh, 21: Shot on Dec. 7 after stabbing an Israeli settler outside of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old city.
15. Omar Arafat Issa al-Zaaqiq, 19: Shot on Nov. 27 after injuring two soldiers in vehicular attack in Beit Ummar north of Hebron.
16. Taher Faysal Fannoun, 19: Shot on Dec. 4 after reportedly stabbing and moderately wounding an Israeli soldier in Hebron’s Tel Rumeida area.
17. Abd al-Rahman Miswadeh: Shot on Dec. 7 after stabbing and injuring two Israelis in Hebron’s Old City.
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Preparations were underway in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron Saturday morning for the burial of 17 bodies of Palestinians returned by Israeli authorities the night before.
Relatives and friends of the Palestinians whose bodies were returned gathered in the early hours of morning at Hebron's al-Ahli hospital in order to retrieve bodies from the morgue and bring them home in preparation for the funeral. Hebron District Attorney Alaa Tamimi told Ma’an that since the bodies were transferred Friday evening, he oversaw examinations of the bodies by forensic doctors, also carried out in the presence of Palestinian Attorney-General, Abd al-Ghani Uweiwi. Tamimi said that the autopsies showed that all 17 had been “executed” without being given any medical treatment after being shot. |
Amid accusations that Israel had harvested organs from the bodies of Palestinians killed while suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis, Tamimi said: “Autopsies showed that the Israeli occupation hasn’t operated on the bodies or stolen any organs."
A spokesperson representing Hebron families whose relatives have been killed by Israeli forces, Raed al-Atrash, told Ma’an that 14 of the bodies would be buried in the city’s Al-Shuhada (Martyrs) Cemetery in the al-Sheikh quarter after funeral prayers are performed.
Omar Zaaqiq -- killed Nov. 27 after running his vehicle into a group of Israelis -- will be buried in his hometown of Beit Ummar, Hamza al-Amla -- killed on Oct. 20 after allegedly attempted to run over Israelis at a bus stop in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc -- will be buried in Beit Ula, and Fadi Hasan al-Froukh -- killed Nov. 1 after being suspected for stabbing an Israeli soldier -- will be buried in Sair.
A general strike was announced in Hebron in solidarity with the families and to encourage attendance of the joint funeral in Hebron city.
The 17 bodies are among over 80 to be held by Israeli authorities since October, according to the UN Office of the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs.
Amid a wave of unrest that swept the occupied Palestinian territories in October, Israel’s security cabinet passed a decision to withhold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis.
The policy has not been carried out with such frequency since the Second Intifada and sparked major backlash among Palestinian communities, who began staging demonstrations demanding the bodies be returned.
During a Knesset meeting on Nov. 5, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that “holding onto bodies is in itself not a deterrent to potential terrorists,” announcing that bodies would be returned on a “case-by-case basis.”
Bodies have since been handed over conditionally, with Israeli authorities demanding the bodies be buried immediately following their handover and that funerals be limited in attendance.
A spokesperson representing Hebron families whose relatives have been killed by Israeli forces, Raed al-Atrash, told Ma’an that 14 of the bodies would be buried in the city’s Al-Shuhada (Martyrs) Cemetery in the al-Sheikh quarter after funeral prayers are performed.
Omar Zaaqiq -- killed Nov. 27 after running his vehicle into a group of Israelis -- will be buried in his hometown of Beit Ummar, Hamza al-Amla -- killed on Oct. 20 after allegedly attempted to run over Israelis at a bus stop in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc -- will be buried in Beit Ula, and Fadi Hasan al-Froukh -- killed Nov. 1 after being suspected for stabbing an Israeli soldier -- will be buried in Sair.
A general strike was announced in Hebron in solidarity with the families and to encourage attendance of the joint funeral in Hebron city.
The 17 bodies are among over 80 to be held by Israeli authorities since October, according to the UN Office of the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs.
Amid a wave of unrest that swept the occupied Palestinian territories in October, Israel’s security cabinet passed a decision to withhold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis.
The policy has not been carried out with such frequency since the Second Intifada and sparked major backlash among Palestinian communities, who began staging demonstrations demanding the bodies be returned.
During a Knesset meeting on Nov. 5, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that “holding onto bodies is in itself not a deterrent to potential terrorists,” announcing that bodies would be returned on a “case-by-case basis.”
Bodies have since been handed over conditionally, with Israeli authorities demanding the bodies be buried immediately following their handover and that funerals be limited in attendance.
The body of the slain Palestinian Ahmed Taha, 21, was sent for an autopsy to make sure whether or not his organs were stolen while being withheld by Israeli authorities, the Palestinian Red Crescent revealed Friday.
Local sources affirmed that Taha family decided to conduct an autopsy on their slain son’s body to examine his organs.
Israeli authorities have earlier demanded that Taha family agree to bury their slain son at night, immediately after his body’s release without imposing any restrictions on performing an autopsy.
However, the family refused Israel’s terms for releasing the body.
Earlier Thursday, Israel handed over the body of Ahmed Taha to his family at Ofer military checkpoint, west of Ramallah, after almost 40 days of its confiscation.
On Nov. 23, Taha was shot and killed by Israeli forces for allegedly stabbing a group of Israeli armed soldiers near Modi'in settlement illegally built in western Ramallah.
Local sources affirmed that Taha family decided to conduct an autopsy on their slain son’s body to examine his organs.
Israeli authorities have earlier demanded that Taha family agree to bury their slain son at night, immediately after his body’s release without imposing any restrictions on performing an autopsy.
However, the family refused Israel’s terms for releasing the body.
Earlier Thursday, Israel handed over the body of Ahmed Taha to his family at Ofer military checkpoint, west of Ramallah, after almost 40 days of its confiscation.
On Nov. 23, Taha was shot and killed by Israeli forces for allegedly stabbing a group of Israeli armed soldiers near Modi'in settlement illegally built in western Ramallah.
The Hamas Movement has called on the Palestinian masses in the West Bank to keenly participate in the funerals of the martyrs, whose bodies were released by the Israelis on Friday.
Funeral processions and burial ceremonies for the martyrs will be held on Saturday and Sunday in al-Khalil, Ramallah and Nablus, according to a press release issued by Hamas in the West Bank.
"The righteous martyrs, who sacrificed their blood and lives for the freedom and dignity of our people, deserve massive popular participation from their people, befitting their sacrifices and their families' patience for their detention," the Movement said.
Funeral processions and burial ceremonies for the martyrs will be held on Saturday and Sunday in al-Khalil, Ramallah and Nablus, according to a press release issued by Hamas in the West Bank.
"The righteous martyrs, who sacrificed their blood and lives for the freedom and dignity of our people, deserve massive popular participation from their people, befitting their sacrifices and their families' patience for their detention," the Movement said.
1 jan 2016
Israeli authorities are expected to hand over the bodies of 17 Palestinians from the Hebron area killed while suspected of carrying out attacks on Israeli military and civilians, a Palestinian liaison announced Friday.
The bodies of six other Palestinians will also be handed over to families in the Ramallah, Nablus, and Jenin areas.
The Palestinian liaison said the bodies were expected to be delivered Friday afternoon. Hebron governor Kamel Hamid following the announcement told Ma’an that the decision was made following continuous demands of the families of the slain Palestinians.
The coordinator for the Palestinian National Committee for Retrieving Bodies of Martyrs, Bayed Amin, told Ma’an that the return was in part facilitated by the Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid which worked with Israeli authorities for the release.
Israel has returned a number of Palestinian bodies to families across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem over the last week, including seven in the Ramallah area Thursday night.
Amid a wave of unrest that swept the occupied Palestinian territories in October, Israel’s security cabinet passed a decision to withhold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis.
Since October, the Israeli authorities have withheld the bodies of over 80 Palestinians for various periods of time, according to the UN Office of the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs.
The policy has not been carried out with such frequency since the Second Intifada and has sparked major backlash among Palestinian communities, who began staging demonstrations demanding the bodies be returned.
During a Knesset meeting on Nov. 5, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that “holding onto bodies is in itself not a deterrent to potential terrorists,” announcing that bodies would be returned on a “case-by-case basis.”
Bodies have since been handed over conditionally, with Israeli authorities demanding the bodies be buried immediately following their handover and that funerals be limited in attendance.
Several Palestinian families earlier this week rejected the conditional returns and petitioned for Israel to allow relatives of slain Palestinians to carry out the burial of their loved ones on their own terms.
Of the signatories’ concerns was the inability for families to request official autopsy of their relative due to the requirement of immediate burial.
The Palestinian Ministry of Justice has reportedly adopted a resolution to perform autopsies on the bodies of all Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in effort to document “Israeli crimes.”
Sabir al-Alou, a coronor responsible for performing autopsies on a number of slain Palestinian and head of Al-Quds University's Institute for Forensic Medicine, told Ma’an Thursday that Israel has returned the bodies full frozen, making immediate autopsies before burial impossible.
The Hebron area where 17 bodies are expected to be returned Friday afternoon has remained especially charged during the recent violence. A joint funeral held in the city for five Palestinians slain while reportedly carrying out attacks was held in October and drew thousands of attendees.
The names of slain Palestinians whose bodies are expected to be included in the Hebron handover :
1. Basil Bassam Sider
2. Fadhil Abdullah Qawasmah
3. Hamza Mousa al-Amlah
4. Saad Muhammad al-Atrash
5. Shadi Nabil al-Qudsi
6. Izz al-Din Nadi Abu Shkheidem
7. Humaam Adnan al-Sa'eed
8. Islam Rafiq Obeido
9. Mahdi Muhammad al-Muhtaseb
10. Farouq Abd al-Qadir Sider
11. Fadi Hassan al-Froukh
12. Malik Talal al-Shareef
13. Mustafa Fadhil Fanoon
14. Ibah Fathi Miswadeh
15. Omar Issa al-Za'aqeeq
16. Tahir Fanoon
17. Abd al-Rahman Miswadeh
The bodies of six other Palestinians will also be handed over to families in the Ramallah, Nablus, and Jenin areas.
The Palestinian liaison said the bodies were expected to be delivered Friday afternoon. Hebron governor Kamel Hamid following the announcement told Ma’an that the decision was made following continuous demands of the families of the slain Palestinians.
The coordinator for the Palestinian National Committee for Retrieving Bodies of Martyrs, Bayed Amin, told Ma’an that the return was in part facilitated by the Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid which worked with Israeli authorities for the release.
Israel has returned a number of Palestinian bodies to families across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem over the last week, including seven in the Ramallah area Thursday night.
Amid a wave of unrest that swept the occupied Palestinian territories in October, Israel’s security cabinet passed a decision to withhold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis.
Since October, the Israeli authorities have withheld the bodies of over 80 Palestinians for various periods of time, according to the UN Office of the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs.
The policy has not been carried out with such frequency since the Second Intifada and has sparked major backlash among Palestinian communities, who began staging demonstrations demanding the bodies be returned.
During a Knesset meeting on Nov. 5, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that “holding onto bodies is in itself not a deterrent to potential terrorists,” announcing that bodies would be returned on a “case-by-case basis.”
Bodies have since been handed over conditionally, with Israeli authorities demanding the bodies be buried immediately following their handover and that funerals be limited in attendance.
Several Palestinian families earlier this week rejected the conditional returns and petitioned for Israel to allow relatives of slain Palestinians to carry out the burial of their loved ones on their own terms.
Of the signatories’ concerns was the inability for families to request official autopsy of their relative due to the requirement of immediate burial.
The Palestinian Ministry of Justice has reportedly adopted a resolution to perform autopsies on the bodies of all Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in effort to document “Israeli crimes.”
Sabir al-Alou, a coronor responsible for performing autopsies on a number of slain Palestinian and head of Al-Quds University's Institute for Forensic Medicine, told Ma’an Thursday that Israel has returned the bodies full frozen, making immediate autopsies before burial impossible.
The Hebron area where 17 bodies are expected to be returned Friday afternoon has remained especially charged during the recent violence. A joint funeral held in the city for five Palestinians slain while reportedly carrying out attacks was held in October and drew thousands of attendees.
The names of slain Palestinians whose bodies are expected to be included in the Hebron handover :
1. Basil Bassam Sider
2. Fadhil Abdullah Qawasmah
3. Hamza Mousa al-Amlah
4. Saad Muhammad al-Atrash
5. Shadi Nabil al-Qudsi
6. Izz al-Din Nadi Abu Shkheidem
7. Humaam Adnan al-Sa'eed
8. Islam Rafiq Obeido
9. Mahdi Muhammad al-Muhtaseb
10. Farouq Abd al-Qadir Sider
11. Fadi Hassan al-Froukh
12. Malik Talal al-Shareef
13. Mustafa Fadhil Fanoon
14. Ibah Fathi Miswadeh
15. Omar Issa al-Za'aqeeq
16. Tahir Fanoon
17. Abd al-Rahman Miswadeh
Thousands of Palestinian mourners marched on Thursday evening in the funeral processions of three Palestinian youths killed by the Israeli occupation army in the Qalandiya refugee camp, to the north of Occupied Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Organization said ambulances received the bodies of three Palestinians, identified as Anan Abu Habseh, Issa Assaf, and Wissam Abu Ghweileh.
The three casualties are residents of the Qalandiya refugee camp.
The Red Crescent added that the Israeli occupation released the body of another Palestinian casualty, identified as Jamal Taha from Qatna town, and reneged on its promises to release the bodies of the two Palestinian youths Ahmad Jahajha and Hikmat Hamdan.
Activist Bahi al-Khatib, from the Qalandiya Information Center, said the funerals kicked off from the Palestine Medical Complex, in Ramallah, where thousands of mourners gathered and carried the three bodies to their family homes to bid them last farewell before the ultimate burial.
The marchers chanted slogans calling for armed resistance against the Israeli occupation and pushing for the prosecution of the Israeli criminals who have been killing Palestinian youths in cold-blood.
Anan Abu Habseh and Issa Assaf were shot dead by the occupation troops on December 23, following an anti-occupation stabbing in Bab al-Khalil area, in western Occupied Jerusalem.
Wissam Abu Ghweila was killed after he carried out an anti-occupation car-ramming attack near the illegal Israeli settlement of Adam, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem.
The funerals of six more Palestinians, whose bodies were released earlier by the Israeli occupation authorities, are expected to be held on Friday.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Organization said ambulances received the bodies of three Palestinians, identified as Anan Abu Habseh, Issa Assaf, and Wissam Abu Ghweileh.
The three casualties are residents of the Qalandiya refugee camp.
The Red Crescent added that the Israeli occupation released the body of another Palestinian casualty, identified as Jamal Taha from Qatna town, and reneged on its promises to release the bodies of the two Palestinian youths Ahmad Jahajha and Hikmat Hamdan.
Activist Bahi al-Khatib, from the Qalandiya Information Center, said the funerals kicked off from the Palestine Medical Complex, in Ramallah, where thousands of mourners gathered and carried the three bodies to their family homes to bid them last farewell before the ultimate burial.
The marchers chanted slogans calling for armed resistance against the Israeli occupation and pushing for the prosecution of the Israeli criminals who have been killing Palestinian youths in cold-blood.
Anan Abu Habseh and Issa Assaf were shot dead by the occupation troops on December 23, following an anti-occupation stabbing in Bab al-Khalil area, in western Occupied Jerusalem.
Wissam Abu Ghweila was killed after he carried out an anti-occupation car-ramming attack near the illegal Israeli settlement of Adam, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem.
The funerals of six more Palestinians, whose bodies were released earlier by the Israeli occupation authorities, are expected to be held on Friday.
31 dec 2015
Israel on Thursday released seven bodies of Palestinians who were shot dead during alleged, attempted or actual attacks on Israeli military and civilians, the Palestinian liaison office said.
Israeli authorities originally announced that 11 bodies would be released, but decided last-minute to hold four of those set to be released for "security reasons."
The seven bodies were released to their families in the central occupied West Bank district of Ramallah after 4 p.m.
The Palestinian Civil Defense said that the bodies of Suleiman Shahin, Ghassan Hammad, Issa Assaf, Wissam Abu Ghweileh, brothers Fadi and Shadi al-Khasib and Ahmad Taha were released.
On Wednesday, a number of Palestinian families came together and signed a letter which stated their refusal to comply with Israel's conditions of release concerning the bodies of their loved ones.
Israeli authorities have demanded that families of slain Palestinians agree to bury their dead at night, immediately after release of the remains.
The letter, which was published on social media, stressed the "natural and legal right" of the families to be granted the remains of their loved ones and bury their dead in an appropriate religious and cultural manner.
Families said burying their dead at night not only goes against traditions, it also prevents many family members from being able to pay their last respects by attending the funerals.
The signatories also pointed out that each family should be allotted time to request an official autopsy on their dead, particularly due to rumors that Israeli authorities have been removing certain organs before releasing remains.
Earlier on Thursday, the Head of Al-Quds University's Institute for Forensic Medicine, Sabir al-Aloul, told Ma’an that the demand by Israeli authorities that Palestinian bodies be buried immediately after their return prevents autopsies from being carried out.
“Israel freezes the bodies of the Palestinian martyrs in mortuaries held at -35 degrees which prevents autopsy for 24 to 48 hours,” al-Aloul said.
Al-Aloul added that Israeli conditions also prevented autopsies that would resolve accusations that Israel has been “stealing” organs from the bodies of Palestinians withheld by the state.
The coroner also reported that a number of the bodies he has received from Israeli custody appeared to be returned in poor condition.
Israeli authorities began holding the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military or civilians in October. The practice has not been used with such frequency since the Second Intifada, according to rights group Hamoked.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Nov. 5 that bodies would begin to be returned on a “case-by-case basis, where the main consideration is if there`ll be a massive funeral.”
Palestinians killed by Israelis are considered marytrs in Palestinian culture, and the funerals for those slain are generally politically charged and end in clashes with Israeli forces, however several bodies have been handed over since Yaalon's statement.
A spokesperson for Israel's Ministry of Defense was not immediately available for comment regarding the return of frozen bodies.
Israeli authorities originally announced that 11 bodies would be released, but decided last-minute to hold four of those set to be released for "security reasons."
The seven bodies were released to their families in the central occupied West Bank district of Ramallah after 4 p.m.
The Palestinian Civil Defense said that the bodies of Suleiman Shahin, Ghassan Hammad, Issa Assaf, Wissam Abu Ghweileh, brothers Fadi and Shadi al-Khasib and Ahmad Taha were released.
On Wednesday, a number of Palestinian families came together and signed a letter which stated their refusal to comply with Israel's conditions of release concerning the bodies of their loved ones.
Israeli authorities have demanded that families of slain Palestinians agree to bury their dead at night, immediately after release of the remains.
The letter, which was published on social media, stressed the "natural and legal right" of the families to be granted the remains of their loved ones and bury their dead in an appropriate religious and cultural manner.
Families said burying their dead at night not only goes against traditions, it also prevents many family members from being able to pay their last respects by attending the funerals.
The signatories also pointed out that each family should be allotted time to request an official autopsy on their dead, particularly due to rumors that Israeli authorities have been removing certain organs before releasing remains.
Earlier on Thursday, the Head of Al-Quds University's Institute for Forensic Medicine, Sabir al-Aloul, told Ma’an that the demand by Israeli authorities that Palestinian bodies be buried immediately after their return prevents autopsies from being carried out.
“Israel freezes the bodies of the Palestinian martyrs in mortuaries held at -35 degrees which prevents autopsy for 24 to 48 hours,” al-Aloul said.
Al-Aloul added that Israeli conditions also prevented autopsies that would resolve accusations that Israel has been “stealing” organs from the bodies of Palestinians withheld by the state.
The coroner also reported that a number of the bodies he has received from Israeli custody appeared to be returned in poor condition.
Israeli authorities began holding the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military or civilians in October. The practice has not been used with such frequency since the Second Intifada, according to rights group Hamoked.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Nov. 5 that bodies would begin to be returned on a “case-by-case basis, where the main consideration is if there`ll be a massive funeral.”
Palestinians killed by Israelis are considered marytrs in Palestinian culture, and the funerals for those slain are generally politically charged and end in clashes with Israeli forces, however several bodies have been handed over since Yaalon's statement.
A spokesperson for Israel's Ministry of Defense was not immediately available for comment regarding the return of frozen bodies.
30 dec 2015
Family members of Palestinians slain by Israel published a letter on Wednesday officially refusing Israel's terms of release concerning the remains of dozens of bodies belonging to Palestinians who were killed during reported attacks against Israelis.
Israeli authorities have demanded that families of the slain Palestinians agree to bury their dead at night, immediately after release of the remains. A number of families of those killed have refused the condition and came together to sign an official letter cementing their stance.
The letter, which was published on social media, stresses the "natural and legal right" of the families to be granted the remains of their loved ones and bury their dead in an appropriate religious and cultural manner.
Families said burying their dead at night not only goes against traditions, it also prevents many family members from being able to pay their last respects by attending the funerals.
The signatories also pointed out that each family should be allotted time to request an official autopsy on their dead, particularly due to rumors that Israeli authorities have been removing certain organs before releasing remains.
Autopsy reports are also used in official paperwork necessary to file cases against Israeli authorities at the International Criminal Court.
In the letter, families demanded that Palestinian leadership and the international community, as well as other national and popular institutions, take action to help pressure Israel to return the withheld bodies.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces released the bodies of three Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces after allegedly attacking Israelis.
While Israeli authorities demanded that all three of the bodies would be laid to rest the day of their release, Palestinian officials notified Israel that the body of 38-year-old Baseem Salah would not be buried on Tuesday as expected, because the remains were still frozen.
Salah was shot dead on Nov. 30 after an attack left an Israeli police officer wounded near Jerusalem's Old City.
Since a wave of unrest swept the occupied Palestinian territory at the beginning of October, Israel has routinely held the bodies of Palestinians it says were attempting to attack Israelis.
Israel's Public Security Ministry said in mid-October that the bodies of alleged Palestinian attackers would no longer be returned to their families and would instead by buried in "secret."
A spokesperson for the ministry said at the time the decision was made in order to stem protests that frequently accompany the funerals of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces.
However, Israel's withholding of bodies has only further stoked tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory, and Israeli authorities have since returned many of them of them to their families, on what they refer to as a "case-by-case" basis.
Israeli authorities have demanded that families of the slain Palestinians agree to bury their dead at night, immediately after release of the remains. A number of families of those killed have refused the condition and came together to sign an official letter cementing their stance.
The letter, which was published on social media, stresses the "natural and legal right" of the families to be granted the remains of their loved ones and bury their dead in an appropriate religious and cultural manner.
Families said burying their dead at night not only goes against traditions, it also prevents many family members from being able to pay their last respects by attending the funerals.
The signatories also pointed out that each family should be allotted time to request an official autopsy on their dead, particularly due to rumors that Israeli authorities have been removing certain organs before releasing remains.
Autopsy reports are also used in official paperwork necessary to file cases against Israeli authorities at the International Criminal Court.
In the letter, families demanded that Palestinian leadership and the international community, as well as other national and popular institutions, take action to help pressure Israel to return the withheld bodies.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces released the bodies of three Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces after allegedly attacking Israelis.
While Israeli authorities demanded that all three of the bodies would be laid to rest the day of their release, Palestinian officials notified Israel that the body of 38-year-old Baseem Salah would not be buried on Tuesday as expected, because the remains were still frozen.
Salah was shot dead on Nov. 30 after an attack left an Israeli police officer wounded near Jerusalem's Old City.
Since a wave of unrest swept the occupied Palestinian territory at the beginning of October, Israel has routinely held the bodies of Palestinians it says were attempting to attack Israelis.
Israel's Public Security Ministry said in mid-October that the bodies of alleged Palestinian attackers would no longer be returned to their families and would instead by buried in "secret."
A spokesperson for the ministry said at the time the decision was made in order to stem protests that frequently accompany the funerals of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces.
However, Israel's withholding of bodies has only further stoked tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory, and Israeli authorities have since returned many of them of them to their families, on what they refer to as a "case-by-case" basis.
Ureiba Mazin Hasan 37
Clashes broke out in Abu Dis, late Tuesday, following a funeral held for a Palestinian killed earlier this month, whose body was held by Israeli authorities for 26 days.
Locals said that 24 Palestinians were shot and injured by rubber-coated steel bullets, while 19 others suffered from severe tear gas inhalation, when clashes erupted between residents and Israeli military forces.
Hani Halbiya, a spokesperson of a local popular resistance committee, told Ma’an News Agency that Israeli authorities handed over the body of Mazin Hasan, 37, near the town of al-Eizariya.
Palestinian Red Crescent medics transferred the body to the Abu Dis medical center, where the funeral procession set off to Ureiba’s family home before mourners carried his body to the local cemetery for burial. An Israeli army spokesperson did not have immediate information on Tuesday’s clashes.
Ureiba’s body was one of three to be returned by Israeli authorities Tuesday evening. The bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis have been withheld in line with a decision made in October by Israel's security cabinet to return the bodies on a case-by-case basis.
The practice has not been used in such frequency since the Second Intifada, according to Israeli rights group Hamoked.
Ureiba, 37, was shot and killed on Dec. 3 after opening fire on Israeli soldiers stationed near the Hizma military checkpoint north of Jerusalem.
According to reports from the Israeli army following the attack, an Israeli soldier was shot in the hand during the attack.
A 47-year-old Palestinian bystander was shot and critically injured when Israeli forces opened fire on Ureiba.
Clashes broke out in Abu Dis, late Tuesday, following a funeral held for a Palestinian killed earlier this month, whose body was held by Israeli authorities for 26 days.
Locals said that 24 Palestinians were shot and injured by rubber-coated steel bullets, while 19 others suffered from severe tear gas inhalation, when clashes erupted between residents and Israeli military forces.
Hani Halbiya, a spokesperson of a local popular resistance committee, told Ma’an News Agency that Israeli authorities handed over the body of Mazin Hasan, 37, near the town of al-Eizariya.
Palestinian Red Crescent medics transferred the body to the Abu Dis medical center, where the funeral procession set off to Ureiba’s family home before mourners carried his body to the local cemetery for burial. An Israeli army spokesperson did not have immediate information on Tuesday’s clashes.
Ureiba’s body was one of three to be returned by Israeli authorities Tuesday evening. The bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis have been withheld in line with a decision made in October by Israel's security cabinet to return the bodies on a case-by-case basis.
The practice has not been used in such frequency since the Second Intifada, according to Israeli rights group Hamoked.
Ureiba, 37, was shot and killed on Dec. 3 after opening fire on Israeli soldiers stationed near the Hizma military checkpoint north of Jerusalem.
According to reports from the Israeli army following the attack, an Israeli soldier was shot in the hand during the attack.
A 47-year-old Palestinian bystander was shot and critically injured when Israeli forces opened fire on Ureiba.
Attempts to prevent families of slain Palestinians from carrying out postmortem autopsy aim at acquitting the Israeli occupation from crimes committed against the Palestinians, political bureau member of Hamas, Ezzet Resheq, said Wednesday.
“Most of the Palestinians slain by the Israeli occupation army were killed in cold-blood,” Resheq said. “Only autopsy would corroborate such facts and criminalize the real murderers.”
Resheq called on the Palestinian Authority to never yield in to Israeli conditions for handing over the bodies of slain Palestinians to their families.
The Hamas leader further pushed for documenting the Israeli crimes against Palestinian anti-occupation youth and impeaching the criminals.
Over recent days, a number of Palestinian families refused to succumb to Israeli conditions to bury their slain sons and daughters without carrying out postmortem autopsy.
The families of the killed Palestinians face tough conditions set by the Israeli occupation in return for the bodies of their dead sons and daughters, which some have accepted while others have rejected, while the international community remains silent regarding this inhumane Israeli practice.
One condition set by the Israeli authorities is that families receive the bodies and bury them during the night, which prevents the family from conducting an independent autopsy to figure out the cause of death.
In many cases, Palestinian families are also forced to sign a number of documents written in the Hebrew language, which they do not understand.
Some few days earlier, the al-Jazeera Net news site quoted a number of Palestinian families as reporting that the bodies of their killed sons and daughters were too frozen for immediate autopsy and, thus, require a long time to be dissolved.
“Most of the Palestinians slain by the Israeli occupation army were killed in cold-blood,” Resheq said. “Only autopsy would corroborate such facts and criminalize the real murderers.”
Resheq called on the Palestinian Authority to never yield in to Israeli conditions for handing over the bodies of slain Palestinians to their families.
The Hamas leader further pushed for documenting the Israeli crimes against Palestinian anti-occupation youth and impeaching the criminals.
Over recent days, a number of Palestinian families refused to succumb to Israeli conditions to bury their slain sons and daughters without carrying out postmortem autopsy.
The families of the killed Palestinians face tough conditions set by the Israeli occupation in return for the bodies of their dead sons and daughters, which some have accepted while others have rejected, while the international community remains silent regarding this inhumane Israeli practice.
One condition set by the Israeli authorities is that families receive the bodies and bury them during the night, which prevents the family from conducting an independent autopsy to figure out the cause of death.
In many cases, Palestinian families are also forced to sign a number of documents written in the Hebrew language, which they do not understand.
Some few days earlier, the al-Jazeera Net news site quoted a number of Palestinian families as reporting that the bodies of their killed sons and daughters were too frozen for immediate autopsy and, thus, require a long time to be dissolved.
