21 jan 2016
Slain Jerusalemites’ families renewed their calls on Israeli authorities to hand over their sons’ bodies.
Spokesperson for the families, the lawyer Mohamed Alyan, whose son Bahaa Alyan was killed by Israeli forces during Jerusalem Intifada, told the PIC reporter that Israeli authorities accepted a month ago to return all slain Palestinians from occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Few days later, West Bank martyrs’ bodies were handed over to their families while only four slain Jerusalemites’ bodies were returned to their families, he continued.
There was a political decision from Netanyahu’s office to suspend handing over the slain Jerusalemites’ bodies without any justification, Alyan explained.
Till this time, he added, no Jerusalemite family was summoned for negotiation about the issue.
He pointed out that the families decided to step up their protest steps till receiving their sons’ bodies.
A protest march is scheduled Thursday to head to the UN building and PLO office in Ramallah, calling for putting real pressures on the Israeli authorities to end the families’ suffering that has been ongoing for more than 100 days.
As part of its collective punishment policy against the Palestinian people, Israel has refused to deliver the bodies of ten Jerusalemites, including a child, killed in occupied Jerusalem since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada on Oct.1.
Spokesperson for the families, the lawyer Mohamed Alyan, whose son Bahaa Alyan was killed by Israeli forces during Jerusalem Intifada, told the PIC reporter that Israeli authorities accepted a month ago to return all slain Palestinians from occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Few days later, West Bank martyrs’ bodies were handed over to their families while only four slain Jerusalemites’ bodies were returned to their families, he continued.
There was a political decision from Netanyahu’s office to suspend handing over the slain Jerusalemites’ bodies without any justification, Alyan explained.
Till this time, he added, no Jerusalemite family was summoned for negotiation about the issue.
He pointed out that the families decided to step up their protest steps till receiving their sons’ bodies.
A protest march is scheduled Thursday to head to the UN building and PLO office in Ramallah, calling for putting real pressures on the Israeli authorities to end the families’ suffering that has been ongoing for more than 100 days.
As part of its collective punishment policy against the Palestinian people, Israel has refused to deliver the bodies of ten Jerusalemites, including a child, killed in occupied Jerusalem since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada on Oct.1.
18 jan 2016
Al-Dameer organization lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the Israeli authorities are delaying the release of Jerusalemite Martyrs’ bodies but still did not cancel their previous decision of releasing them.
Lawyer Mahmoud added that the occupation intelligence informed him on Sunday that they still do not have a specific date to release the bodies. He was not informed about what has been published by the media and social media about freezing or cancelling the release of Martyrs’ bodies knowing that the intelligence did not specify the release date since the day they took the decision.
The lawyer confirmed in a statement that no changes were made to the releasing decision. In the last few days, several Martyrs’ bodies from the West Bank and Jerusalem were released while the intelligence did not set the releasing conditions of the remaining bodies.
The lawyer pointed out that the occupation authorities are still detaining the bodies of 10 Jerusalemite Martyrs from the village of Jabal Al-Mukabber Beit Hanina, Old City of Jerusalem and Silwan in which the oldest body detained is the body of Martyr Abdel Salam Abu Ghazaleh; detained for 102 days.
Lawyer Mahmoud added that the occupation intelligence informed him on Sunday that they still do not have a specific date to release the bodies. He was not informed about what has been published by the media and social media about freezing or cancelling the release of Martyrs’ bodies knowing that the intelligence did not specify the release date since the day they took the decision.
The lawyer confirmed in a statement that no changes were made to the releasing decision. In the last few days, several Martyrs’ bodies from the West Bank and Jerusalem were released while the intelligence did not set the releasing conditions of the remaining bodies.
The lawyer pointed out that the occupation authorities are still detaining the bodies of 10 Jerusalemite Martyrs from the village of Jabal Al-Mukabber Beit Hanina, Old City of Jerusalem and Silwan in which the oldest body detained is the body of Martyr Abdel Salam Abu Ghazaleh; detained for 102 days.
16 jan 2016
A local committee was elected near Bethlehem on Saturday by families of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces to advocate for the return of bodies withheld by Israel.
The meeting, held in the village of al-Duha near Bethlehem, was entitled “We want our sons.”
The head of the Palestinian National Committee for Retrieving Bodies of Martyrs, Issam al-Arouri, and prominent lawyer Suleiman Shahin attended the meeting.
Shahin said he had obtained a written pledge from an Israeli court to return the bodies of 119 Palestinians, including residents of Bethlehem, who have been kept by Israel for lengthy periods of time.
Member of the committee, Ahmad Dabash, whose brother’s body has been held by Israel for 14 years, said: “Our demand to return the bodies of the martyrs to their families is humane, and activities will continue until our demand is achieved.”
The committee agreed upon a number of activities, including a permanent protest tent and issuing posters of the killed Palestinians to re-awaken the popular drive to demand that the bodies be returned to their families and buried according to their religious rites.
Israel in October decided to hold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military and civilians. Several have since been returned, and handovers of the bodies of Palestinians killed this month have been near-immediate.
Although the issue of withheld bodies has come back into the spotlight since the beginning of a wave of unrest in the West Bank, around 262 Palestinian bodies were believed to be held by Israel prior to October.
Israel has long had “cemeteries for the enemy dead,” also referred to as “cemeteries of numbers,” where Palestinians who died during attacks on Israelis are held in nameless graves marked by numbers.
The practice has been denounced by Israeli human rights organization Hamoked as amounting to collective punishment for family members of the dead.
The meeting, held in the village of al-Duha near Bethlehem, was entitled “We want our sons.”
The head of the Palestinian National Committee for Retrieving Bodies of Martyrs, Issam al-Arouri, and prominent lawyer Suleiman Shahin attended the meeting.
Shahin said he had obtained a written pledge from an Israeli court to return the bodies of 119 Palestinians, including residents of Bethlehem, who have been kept by Israel for lengthy periods of time.
Member of the committee, Ahmad Dabash, whose brother’s body has been held by Israel for 14 years, said: “Our demand to return the bodies of the martyrs to their families is humane, and activities will continue until our demand is achieved.”
The committee agreed upon a number of activities, including a permanent protest tent and issuing posters of the killed Palestinians to re-awaken the popular drive to demand that the bodies be returned to their families and buried according to their religious rites.
Israel in October decided to hold the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military and civilians. Several have since been returned, and handovers of the bodies of Palestinians killed this month have been near-immediate.
Although the issue of withheld bodies has come back into the spotlight since the beginning of a wave of unrest in the West Bank, around 262 Palestinian bodies were believed to be held by Israel prior to October.
Israel has long had “cemeteries for the enemy dead,” also referred to as “cemeteries of numbers,” where Palestinians who died during attacks on Israelis are held in nameless graves marked by numbers.
The practice has been denounced by Israeli human rights organization Hamoked as amounting to collective punishment for family members of the dead.
12 jan 2016
The occupation intelligence decided to release the body of 17-year old Martyr Mustafa Khatib to bury him in the city of Ramallah.
Al-Dameer organization lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, explained that the occupation intelligence decided to release the body of Marty Khatib on Monday to bury him.
The lawyer pointed out that the Martyr’s body has been detained since 12/10/2015.
Khatib passed in the area of Lions’ Gate –one of the Old City’s gates- after being shot under the pretext of carrying out a stabbing attack.
Al-Dameer organization lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, explained that the occupation intelligence decided to release the body of Marty Khatib on Monday to bury him.
The lawyer pointed out that the Martyr’s body has been detained since 12/10/2015.
Khatib passed in the area of Lions’ Gate –one of the Old City’s gates- after being shot under the pretext of carrying out a stabbing attack.
5 jan 2016
Three Jerusalemites were injured on Tuesday during Israeli quelling of a protest at the Damascus gate in Occupied Jerusalem. The protest was against the continuation of detaining Palestinian martyrs’ bodies.
Local sources revealed that Jerusalemite activists organized a protest to demand the delivery of the bodies of Palestinian martyrs who were killed by Israeli gunfire.
The participants waved banners demanding delivering the bodies of martyrs. Meanwhile, Israeli forces tried to disperse the protest under gun threat and quelled the participants using stun grenades. The Israeli forces also assaulted the families of martyrs and barred pressmen from covering the event and the Israeli violent quelling of the protest.
The Israeli violent quelling led to the injury of three Palestinians by stun grenades' shrapnel and were treated at the scene, medic Osama Mekhaimer said.
Eleven bodies of Palestinian martyrs from Occupied Jerusalem are still detained by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Local sources revealed that Jerusalemite activists organized a protest to demand the delivery of the bodies of Palestinian martyrs who were killed by Israeli gunfire.
The participants waved banners demanding delivering the bodies of martyrs. Meanwhile, Israeli forces tried to disperse the protest under gun threat and quelled the participants using stun grenades. The Israeli forces also assaulted the families of martyrs and barred pressmen from covering the event and the Israeli violent quelling of the protest.
The Israeli violent quelling led to the injury of three Palestinians by stun grenades' shrapnel and were treated at the scene, medic Osama Mekhaimer said.
Eleven bodies of Palestinian martyrs from Occupied Jerusalem are still detained by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Dozens of Palestinian youths were injured Monday evening as clashes broke out between local youths and Israeli police forces throughout occupied Jerusalem.
Media sources said that the clashes erupted when Israeli forces violently broke into Issawiya town, east of the city, amid heavy firing of live and rubber bullets.
Tear gas bombs were also intensively fired during the clashes, leading to breathing problems among many local youths.
Three youths were arrested after Israeli forces stormed a number of homes in the town.
Similar clashes were reported in Kattana town, northwest of the city, following a funeral procession for Ahmad Jamal Taha, 16.
Medical sources confirmed that 11 Palestinians were injured during the clashes that erupted after a funeral in Kattana village. Seven Palestinians were injured with live fire and three more with rubber-coated steel bullets while 30 choked on tear gas.
An ambulance was targeted with rubber bullets during the confrontations, the sources added.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced that the bodies of three Jerusalemites, who were killed while reportedly carrying out attacks, would be returned conditionally.
Israeli authorities would hand over the bodies on the condition that they will be buried outside of the separation wall that splits occupied Jerusalem. Each family of the three slain Palestinians has to sign an affidavit approving the condition, which if violated they would have to pay a fine, the sources explained.
Media sources said that the clashes erupted when Israeli forces violently broke into Issawiya town, east of the city, amid heavy firing of live and rubber bullets.
Tear gas bombs were also intensively fired during the clashes, leading to breathing problems among many local youths.
Three youths were arrested after Israeli forces stormed a number of homes in the town.
Similar clashes were reported in Kattana town, northwest of the city, following a funeral procession for Ahmad Jamal Taha, 16.
Medical sources confirmed that 11 Palestinians were injured during the clashes that erupted after a funeral in Kattana village. Seven Palestinians were injured with live fire and three more with rubber-coated steel bullets while 30 choked on tear gas.
An ambulance was targeted with rubber bullets during the confrontations, the sources added.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced that the bodies of three Jerusalemites, who were killed while reportedly carrying out attacks, would be returned conditionally.
Israeli authorities would hand over the bodies on the condition that they will be buried outside of the separation wall that splits occupied Jerusalem. Each family of the three slain Palestinians has to sign an affidavit approving the condition, which if violated they would have to pay a fine, the sources explained.
4 jan 2016
Israeli authorities on Monday announced that the body of a 21-year-old Palestinian from Hebron is scheduled to be returned to family members, according to an Addameer human rights lawyer.
Muhammad Mahmoud said Israeli intelligence informed him that the body of Abdel-Muhsen Hassuneh would be returned to his family under the condition that the family bury him at a cemetery in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron.
Unlike other similar cases, Israeli authorities did not demand any further conditions.
Hassuneh was shot dead on Dec. 14 after he allegedly rammed his car into a bus stop, injuring 11 people in Jerusalem.
Israeli authorities have released several bodies in recent days, with more than 80 more bodies expected to be returned to their families on a “case-by-case” basis.
Israel has held the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out alleged, attempted and actual attacks on Israelis since violence increased in October, holding over 80 bodies since the unrest began, according to documentation by the United Nations.
Conditional releases have been decried by Palestinians who see the policy as collective punishment and a violation of religious traditions.
The bodies of 23 Palestinians were returned to families in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, with a mass joint funeral held for 14 Palestinians in the city of Hebron.
Muhammad Mahmoud said Israeli intelligence informed him that the body of Abdel-Muhsen Hassuneh would be returned to his family under the condition that the family bury him at a cemetery in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron.
Unlike other similar cases, Israeli authorities did not demand any further conditions.
Hassuneh was shot dead on Dec. 14 after he allegedly rammed his car into a bus stop, injuring 11 people in Jerusalem.
Israeli authorities have released several bodies in recent days, with more than 80 more bodies expected to be returned to their families on a “case-by-case” basis.
Israel has held the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out alleged, attempted and actual attacks on Israelis since violence increased in October, holding over 80 bodies since the unrest began, according to documentation by the United Nations.
Conditional releases have been decried by Palestinians who see the policy as collective punishment and a violation of religious traditions.
The bodies of 23 Palestinians were returned to families in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, with a mass joint funeral held for 14 Palestinians in the city of Hebron.
3 jan 2016
Thousands of Palestinians in Nablus city Sunday bade farewell to the female martyr Ashraqat Qatanani who was killed by Israeli forces a month ago.
Israeli forces delivered the body of martyr Qatanani to her family in Askar refugee camp in Nablus last Friday. The family postponed the funeral for autopsy in order to make sure that Israeli forces did not steal her organs and to document the way of her execution.
The autopsy report has shown on Sunday that Israeli forces deliberately murdered the girl who is only 16 years old by direct shooting.
Local sources confirmed that Israeli soldiers shot the girl Qatanani with nine bullets in the back and legs that hit her heart, lungs, and liver.
The sources pointed out that Israeli army soldiers shot the minor girl using two kinds of weapons and beat her after shooting.
The martyr Ashraqat Qatanani died after she was first run over by the Israeli former head of the Shomron Regional Council in the West Bank, Gershon Mesika, at Howarah checkpoint in southern Nablus on November 22, 2015. Then, soldiers shot her leading to her immediate death.
The family of the executed minor refused to receive her body earlier based on Israeli conditions of burying her at night and without exposing her body to autopsy.
Israeli forces delivered the body of martyr Qatanani to her family in Askar refugee camp in Nablus last Friday. The family postponed the funeral for autopsy in order to make sure that Israeli forces did not steal her organs and to document the way of her execution.
The autopsy report has shown on Sunday that Israeli forces deliberately murdered the girl who is only 16 years old by direct shooting.
Local sources confirmed that Israeli soldiers shot the girl Qatanani with nine bullets in the back and legs that hit her heart, lungs, and liver.
The sources pointed out that Israeli army soldiers shot the minor girl using two kinds of weapons and beat her after shooting.
The martyr Ashraqat Qatanani died after she was first run over by the Israeli former head of the Shomron Regional Council in the West Bank, Gershon Mesika, at Howarah checkpoint in southern Nablus on November 22, 2015. Then, soldiers shot her leading to her immediate death.
The family of the executed minor refused to receive her body earlier based on Israeli conditions of burying her at night and without exposing her body to autopsy.
The Shufat refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem, surrounded by the separation wall
Israeli authorities on Sunday announced that the bodies of four Palestinians from Jerusalem who were killed while reportedly carrying out attacks would be returned conditionally.
A lawyer for prisoners’ rights group Addameer, Muhammad Mahmoud said in a statement that Israeli authorities would hand over the bodies on the condition that they be buried outside of the separation wall that splits occupied East Jerusalem.
Mahmoud said the authorities requested the bodies be buried in the Palestinian neighborhoods of Kafr Aqab and Anata, part of Jerusalem but cut-off from other neighborhoods by a concrete wall.
The four bodies belong to Palestinians who were killed between Oct. 10 and Oct. 30.
Israeli authorities demanded that the bodies of 16-year-old Ishaq Badran and Ahmad Hamada Qneibi, 22, be buried in the Kafr Aqab cemetery.
Badran was shot on Oct. 10 after carrying out an alleged stabbing attack near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, lightly injuring two Israelis, and Qneibi was shot after stabbing two Israelis in Sheikh Jarrah on Oct. 30. Both are residents of Kafr Aqab.
The authorities also included Muhammad Saed Ali, 19, who was killed on Oct. 10 after stabbing an Israeli officer in the neck outside of the Damascus gate. The teen is from the Shufat refugee camp, located next to Anata, where Israeli authorities demanded he be buried.
Also to be buried in the Anata cemetery is 16-year-old Hassan Khalid Manasra, who was killed on Oct. 12 after reportedly attempted to stab police officer in Jerusalem.
Each family was asked to deposit a bail of 5000 shekels ($1285) in order to guarantee they adhere with the preconditions stipulated by Israeli authorities for their return, Mahmoud told Ma’an.
Israel has held the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis since violence increased in October, holding over 80 bodies since the unrest began, according to documentation by the United Nations.
Conditional releases have been decried by Palestinians who see the policy as collective punishment and a violation of religious traditions.
The bodies of 23 Palestinians were returned to families in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, with a mass joint funeral held for 14 Palestinians in the city of Hebron.
Israeli authorities on Sunday announced that the bodies of four Palestinians from Jerusalem who were killed while reportedly carrying out attacks would be returned conditionally.
A lawyer for prisoners’ rights group Addameer, Muhammad Mahmoud said in a statement that Israeli authorities would hand over the bodies on the condition that they be buried outside of the separation wall that splits occupied East Jerusalem.
Mahmoud said the authorities requested the bodies be buried in the Palestinian neighborhoods of Kafr Aqab and Anata, part of Jerusalem but cut-off from other neighborhoods by a concrete wall.
The four bodies belong to Palestinians who were killed between Oct. 10 and Oct. 30.
Israeli authorities demanded that the bodies of 16-year-old Ishaq Badran and Ahmad Hamada Qneibi, 22, be buried in the Kafr Aqab cemetery.
Badran was shot on Oct. 10 after carrying out an alleged stabbing attack near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, lightly injuring two Israelis, and Qneibi was shot after stabbing two Israelis in Sheikh Jarrah on Oct. 30. Both are residents of Kafr Aqab.
The authorities also included Muhammad Saed Ali, 19, who was killed on Oct. 10 after stabbing an Israeli officer in the neck outside of the Damascus gate. The teen is from the Shufat refugee camp, located next to Anata, where Israeli authorities demanded he be buried.
Also to be buried in the Anata cemetery is 16-year-old Hassan Khalid Manasra, who was killed on Oct. 12 after reportedly attempted to stab police officer in Jerusalem.
Each family was asked to deposit a bail of 5000 shekels ($1285) in order to guarantee they adhere with the preconditions stipulated by Israeli authorities for their return, Mahmoud told Ma’an.
Israel has held the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis since violence increased in October, holding over 80 bodies since the unrest began, according to documentation by the United Nations.
Conditional releases have been decried by Palestinians who see the policy as collective punishment and a violation of religious traditions.
The bodies of 23 Palestinians were returned to families in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, with a mass joint funeral held for 14 Palestinians in the city of Hebron.
14 Palestinian civilians sustained rubber bullet wounds on Saturday and dozens more choked on tear gas after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) aggressively attacked mourners marching in the funerals of slain Palestinian youths in al-Khalil.
Media spokesperson for the popular anti-settlement committee in Beit Ummar village, north of al-Khalil,, Muhammad Awad, said clashes burst out following the funeral procession of Omar Za’aqiq, resulting in injuries among the marchers.
14 Palestinians sustained rubber bullet wounds and were rushed to local hospitals for urgent treatment. Dozens of citizens were also treated for breathing disorders.
The IOF sealed off the entrance to Beit Ummar and stormed Palestinian civilian homes.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian youths sustained critical breathing disorders in a wave of violent confrontations that rocked Bab al-Zawia area in al-Khalil city during the funeral procession of 17 slain Palestinians.
Thousands of Palestinians marched in the funeral processions held for 17 Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation troops during the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada, which started in early October.
A general strike was announced across al-Khalil city in protest at Israel’s cold-blooded murder of Palestinian anti-occupation youths.
Media spokesperson for the popular anti-settlement committee in Beit Ummar village, north of al-Khalil,, Muhammad Awad, said clashes burst out following the funeral procession of Omar Za’aqiq, resulting in injuries among the marchers.
14 Palestinians sustained rubber bullet wounds and were rushed to local hospitals for urgent treatment. Dozens of citizens were also treated for breathing disorders.
The IOF sealed off the entrance to Beit Ummar and stormed Palestinian civilian homes.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian youths sustained critical breathing disorders in a wave of violent confrontations that rocked Bab al-Zawia area in al-Khalil city during the funeral procession of 17 slain Palestinians.
Thousands of Palestinians marched in the funeral processions held for 17 Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation troops during the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada, which started in early October.
A general strike was announced across al-Khalil city in protest at Israel’s cold-blooded murder of Palestinian anti-occupation youths.
