1 sept 2016
A Palestinian family from Jerusalem managed, on Thursday at dawn, to hold a funeral and burial ceremony for their son, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers 324 days ago, after he, and another Palestinian, reportedly killed three Israelis in Armon Hanetziv colony, built on Palestinian lands in Jabal al-Mokabber town, in Jerusalem.
The Israeli army imposed severe restrictions and installed many roadblocks, in addition to preventing the Palestinians, and journalists, from documenting the funeral and burial ceremonies, at the Mujahidin Graveyard, in Salaheddin Street, in Jerusalem.
The Israeli military only allowed 25 Palestinians to participate in the funeral, after subjecting them to extensive and provocative searches, in addition to confiscating their phones.
The Israeli military and security forces have tried, for several months, to pressure the family of Baha’ Oleyyan, 22, into burying their slain son in previously determined locations, including the West Bank, and tried to limit the number of funeral participants, but the family kept rejecting the Israeli preconditions.
Baha’s father said it was very difficult for the family to identify their slain son, especially due to postmortem issues, including skin color, face and eyes, and added that the corpse was not frozen, but very cold.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the soldiers imposed a very strict siege on all roads surrounding the graveyard, especially Salaheddin Street, Sahera Gate and Sultan Suleiman Street, and prevented the Palestinians from entering these areas for more than three hours.
It added that undercover forces of the Israeli military were also extensively deployed in the area, especially on junctions and roads leading around the graveyard, in addition to closing the Sahera Gate.
The soldiers also assaulted many Palestinian journalists, violently removed them from the Sahera Gate and Salaheddin Street, and forced them to stand in the Tribes Gate area.
Following the funeral, the soldiers assaulted many family members, including Baha’s father, and refused to allow him to talk to the journalists who had to stand far from Sahera Gate and Salaheddin Street.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers also fired several concussion grenades and sound bombs at many Palestinians, and prevented them from even approaching the Oleyyan family.Israel claims that Elian and another Palestinian killed three Israelis, after one of them grabbed a gun from a bus passenger and began shooting.
Israel is still holding the corpses of twelve Palestinians, who were killed since October 1st of 2015, two of them are from Jerusalem.
The Palestinians are:
The Israeli army imposed severe restrictions and installed many roadblocks, in addition to preventing the Palestinians, and journalists, from documenting the funeral and burial ceremonies, at the Mujahidin Graveyard, in Salaheddin Street, in Jerusalem.
The Israeli military only allowed 25 Palestinians to participate in the funeral, after subjecting them to extensive and provocative searches, in addition to confiscating their phones.
The Israeli military and security forces have tried, for several months, to pressure the family of Baha’ Oleyyan, 22, into burying their slain son in previously determined locations, including the West Bank, and tried to limit the number of funeral participants, but the family kept rejecting the Israeli preconditions.
Baha’s father said it was very difficult for the family to identify their slain son, especially due to postmortem issues, including skin color, face and eyes, and added that the corpse was not frozen, but very cold.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the soldiers imposed a very strict siege on all roads surrounding the graveyard, especially Salaheddin Street, Sahera Gate and Sultan Suleiman Street, and prevented the Palestinians from entering these areas for more than three hours.
It added that undercover forces of the Israeli military were also extensively deployed in the area, especially on junctions and roads leading around the graveyard, in addition to closing the Sahera Gate.
The soldiers also assaulted many Palestinian journalists, violently removed them from the Sahera Gate and Salaheddin Street, and forced them to stand in the Tribes Gate area.
Following the funeral, the soldiers assaulted many family members, including Baha’s father, and refused to allow him to talk to the journalists who had to stand far from Sahera Gate and Salaheddin Street.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers also fired several concussion grenades and sound bombs at many Palestinians, and prevented them from even approaching the Oleyyan family.Israel claims that Elian and another Palestinian killed three Israelis, after one of them grabbed a gun from a bus passenger and began shooting.
Israel is still holding the corpses of twelve Palestinians, who were killed since October 1st of 2015, two of them are from Jerusalem.
The Palestinians are:
- Abdul-Mohsin Hassouna – Jerusalem.
- Mohammad Abu Khalaf, Jerusalem.
- Sara Tarayra, Hebron.
- Mohammad Tarayra, Hebron.
- Majd al-Khdour, Hebron.
- Mustafa Baradeyya, Hebron.
- Mohammad al-Faqeeh, Hebron.
- Wael Abu Saleh, Tulkarem.
- Ansar Harsha, Tulkarem.
- Abdul-Hamid Abu Srour, Bethlehem.
- Rami Awartani, Nablus.
- Sari Abu Ghorab, Jenin.
30 aug 2016
The Israeli authorities released, on Tuesday at dawn, the body of Tha’er Abu Ghazala, 19, who was killed by the army on October 8th, 2015, after reportedly stabbing and wounding a soldier, and three other Israelis, in Tel Aviv.
Abu Ghazala is from Kufur Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem. The Israeli army and police completely closed the Sahera Gate area, in Jerusalem, and forcibly removed all reporters and residents from the entire area to prevent them from documenting the funeral ceremony.
Abeer Abu Ghazala, the mother of Tha’er, said she has been waiting for nearly a year to see the corpse of her son, and to bury him in a proper ceremony.
“When he was killed nearly a year ago, he was 19 years of age,” the mother said while carrying 20 roses in her hands, “Today, I placed 19 roses on his grave, and kept one with me.”
“The occupation has been torturing us since executing him after accusing him of a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv,” the mother added, “But today, I buried my son, and with my bare hands and placed the soil of Jerusalem on his grave.”
She also stated that the corpse of her son was very cold, and there were no signs of any autopsy or organ harvesting.
It is worth mentioning that Israel is still holding the remains of 13 young slain Palestinians, including three from Jerusalem. The precondition of releasing their remains is limiting the number of funeral precipitants to 25, holding the burial after midnight or at dawn, and paying a 25.000 Israeli Shekels bail.
Abu Ghazala is from Kufur Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem. The Israeli army and police completely closed the Sahera Gate area, in Jerusalem, and forcibly removed all reporters and residents from the entire area to prevent them from documenting the funeral ceremony.
Abeer Abu Ghazala, the mother of Tha’er, said she has been waiting for nearly a year to see the corpse of her son, and to bury him in a proper ceremony.
“When he was killed nearly a year ago, he was 19 years of age,” the mother said while carrying 20 roses in her hands, “Today, I placed 19 roses on his grave, and kept one with me.”
“The occupation has been torturing us since executing him after accusing him of a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv,” the mother added, “But today, I buried my son, and with my bare hands and placed the soil of Jerusalem on his grave.”
She also stated that the corpse of her son was very cold, and there were no signs of any autopsy or organ harvesting.
It is worth mentioning that Israel is still holding the remains of 13 young slain Palestinians, including three from Jerusalem. The precondition of releasing their remains is limiting the number of funeral precipitants to 25, holding the burial after midnight or at dawn, and paying a 25.000 Israeli Shekels bail.
18 aug 2016
The Israeli authorities released, after midnight, the body of a Palestinian who was killed in March of this year, and only allowed twenty family members to attend the funeral ceremony at a graveyard in Salaheddin Street, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Dozens of soldiers and police officers completely sealed the Sahera Gate area, and Salaheddin Street, an hour before transferring the body of Mohammad Jamal al-Kalouti, 21, from Kafr ‘Aqab town, north of Jerusalem, to his family.
The soldiers installed roadblocks and prevented the Palestinian from participating in the funeral ceremony, and refused to even allow media crews into the area.
Only ten women and twenty men were allowed to participate in the funeral and burial of al-Kalouti, who was shot dead by the soldiers in March following a shooting attack in Jerusalem.
Lawyer Mohammad Mahmoud of the Palestinian Detainees’ Committee said Israel is still holding the bodies of 14 Palestinians, including five from Jerusalem.
He added that the Legal Counselor in Israel opposes the decision of Israel’s Defense Minister regarding holding the bodies of slain Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israeli targets as an act of collective punishment.
It is worth mentioning that al-Kalouti, and Abdul-Malek Saleh Abu Kharroub, 19, were killed after reportedly deliberately ramming an Israeli with their car, causing serious injuries.
Dozens of soldiers and police officers completely sealed the Sahera Gate area, and Salaheddin Street, an hour before transferring the body of Mohammad Jamal al-Kalouti, 21, from Kafr ‘Aqab town, north of Jerusalem, to his family.
The soldiers installed roadblocks and prevented the Palestinian from participating in the funeral ceremony, and refused to even allow media crews into the area.
Only ten women and twenty men were allowed to participate in the funeral and burial of al-Kalouti, who was shot dead by the soldiers in March following a shooting attack in Jerusalem.
Lawyer Mohammad Mahmoud of the Palestinian Detainees’ Committee said Israel is still holding the bodies of 14 Palestinians, including five from Jerusalem.
He added that the Legal Counselor in Israel opposes the decision of Israel’s Defense Minister regarding holding the bodies of slain Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israeli targets as an act of collective punishment.
It is worth mentioning that al-Kalouti, and Abdul-Malek Saleh Abu Kharroub, 19, were killed after reportedly deliberately ramming an Israeli with their car, causing serious injuries.
17 aug 2016
The legal advisor of the Israeli government said on Wednesday night that he objects the decision of the Minister of Security to detain the bodies of Palestinian Martyrs as a way of punishing the Martyrs’ families.
He said that the policy followed by the Minster of Security is an unacceptable policy and every Martyr should be considered as a separate case. He said that the bodies should be released if security conditions are achieved.
The lawyer of prisoners’ affairs, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the decision of the government’s legal advisor came after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered last month the police and public prosecution to discuss the case of Martyrs’ bodies with the legal advisor to make a decision.
The occupation authorities continue to detain the bodies of 15 Palestinian Martyrs since the beginning of the popular uprising last October.
He said that the policy followed by the Minster of Security is an unacceptable policy and every Martyr should be considered as a separate case. He said that the bodies should be released if security conditions are achieved.
The lawyer of prisoners’ affairs, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the decision of the government’s legal advisor came after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered last month the police and public prosecution to discuss the case of Martyrs’ bodies with the legal advisor to make a decision.
The occupation authorities continue to detain the bodies of 15 Palestinian Martyrs since the beginning of the popular uprising last October.
16 aug 2016
Muhammad al-Kalouti
The Israeli intelligence on Monday agreed to hand over the withheld bodies of slain Palestinian anti-occupation youths, under conditions.
Lawyer Muhammad Mahmoud, from the prisoners’ committee, said the Israeli intelligence promised to release the bodies it has been withholding for months, starting with the body of 21-year-old Muhammad al-Kalouti.
Al-Kalouti was killed by the Israeli occupation army following an anti-occupation shooting attack on an Israeli bus on March 9.
The Israeli occupation authorities stipulated that the youths’ families pay a fine of $5,250 and allow 25 persons only to attend the funeral procession.
The Israelis also ordered that the bodies be buried overnight in Bab al-Sahira cemetery, in Occupied Jerusalem.
Recently, the Israeli High Court gave the Israeli police until August 15 to provide justifications for withholding the bodies of slain youths.
The bodies of at least 15 Palestinian anti-occupation protesters, killed since the outbreak of the Jerusalem Uprising started in early October, have been withheld by the Israeli occupation authorities, preventing their mothers, fathers, and friends from bidding them last farewell and burying them in Muslim cemeteries.
The Israeli intelligence on Monday agreed to hand over the withheld bodies of slain Palestinian anti-occupation youths, under conditions.
Lawyer Muhammad Mahmoud, from the prisoners’ committee, said the Israeli intelligence promised to release the bodies it has been withholding for months, starting with the body of 21-year-old Muhammad al-Kalouti.
Al-Kalouti was killed by the Israeli occupation army following an anti-occupation shooting attack on an Israeli bus on March 9.
The Israeli occupation authorities stipulated that the youths’ families pay a fine of $5,250 and allow 25 persons only to attend the funeral procession.
The Israelis also ordered that the bodies be buried overnight in Bab al-Sahira cemetery, in Occupied Jerusalem.
Recently, the Israeli High Court gave the Israeli police until August 15 to provide justifications for withholding the bodies of slain youths.
The bodies of at least 15 Palestinian anti-occupation protesters, killed since the outbreak of the Jerusalem Uprising started in early October, have been withheld by the Israeli occupation authorities, preventing their mothers, fathers, and friends from bidding them last farewell and burying them in Muslim cemeteries.
10 aug 2016
Talks begin between Israel and family of Armon HaNatziv terrorist to set conditions for releasing his body for burial; police say family unwilling to abide by terms of burial.
The family of Baha Aliyan, a terrorist who who became a symbol of the recent wave of terror, almost secured the release of their dead son being held by Israeli authorities but refused to abide by the funeral terms, according to the Jerusalem Police.
Alyan, from Jabel Mukaber in the capital, was one of the terrorists who murdered three Israelis in a deadly attack on the 78 bus in the Jerusalem last October.
Aylan, who on October 13, 2015 boarded a bus with fellow-terrorist Bilal Abu Ghanem, armed with guns and axes, was killed during the attack by security forces while Ghanem is currently standing trial.
Since the attack, which claimed the lives of Haviv Haim, 78, Richard Lakin, 76, and Alon Andrei Govberg, 51—and wounded several others - Alyan became one of the more prominent symbols of the escelation of violence. His legacy became one to which other like-minded Palestinians aspired and his actions transformed him into a role model worthy of emulation.
His family were since invited to lecture at a number of schools where they glorified his legacy and his actions.
At the beginning of the week Alyan’s family reportedly reached an agreement with senior officials in the Jerusalem Police regarding the return of the terrorist’s body. According to the agreement, only 30 people would be permitted to participate in the funeral and the burial site would be in one of the cemeteries in the Old City. The family also agreed to deposit a financial guarantee to ensure that it abided by the terms.
However, according to the family, the police reduced the number of attendees allowed and instructed that Alyan be buried in a different cemetery next to Wadi al-Joz. As a result, so the family claims, these changes are the reason that no agreement has been reached.
The Jerusalem Police however, categorically deny that any changes were made to the conditions presented to the family.
Bodies of terrorists have been released in the past for burial after families have agreed to certain preconditions such as discrete funerals at night, the prohibition of incitement and the deposit if financial guarantees.
After the funeral of terrorist Alaa Abu Jamal from Jabel Mukaber turned into a display of hatred and incitement in May, with some 200 East Jerusalem residents crowding outside the cemetery and calling out "Allahu Akbar" and "In blood and spirit we will avenge you, shahid,” Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan instructed the police to stop returning terrorists' bodies to their families for burials.
As a result of the incitement another condition was added by the police, namely that they be the ones to select the location of the burial.
Erdan echoed the police statements that no changes had occurred on the Israeli side. According to the police, the family is simply unwilling to abide by the terms outlined by the police which accounts for the reason that Alyan will not be returned at this stage.
The family of Baha Aliyan, a terrorist who who became a symbol of the recent wave of terror, almost secured the release of their dead son being held by Israeli authorities but refused to abide by the funeral terms, according to the Jerusalem Police.
Alyan, from Jabel Mukaber in the capital, was one of the terrorists who murdered three Israelis in a deadly attack on the 78 bus in the Jerusalem last October.
Aylan, who on October 13, 2015 boarded a bus with fellow-terrorist Bilal Abu Ghanem, armed with guns and axes, was killed during the attack by security forces while Ghanem is currently standing trial.
Since the attack, which claimed the lives of Haviv Haim, 78, Richard Lakin, 76, and Alon Andrei Govberg, 51—and wounded several others - Alyan became one of the more prominent symbols of the escelation of violence. His legacy became one to which other like-minded Palestinians aspired and his actions transformed him into a role model worthy of emulation.
His family were since invited to lecture at a number of schools where they glorified his legacy and his actions.
At the beginning of the week Alyan’s family reportedly reached an agreement with senior officials in the Jerusalem Police regarding the return of the terrorist’s body. According to the agreement, only 30 people would be permitted to participate in the funeral and the burial site would be in one of the cemeteries in the Old City. The family also agreed to deposit a financial guarantee to ensure that it abided by the terms.
However, according to the family, the police reduced the number of attendees allowed and instructed that Alyan be buried in a different cemetery next to Wadi al-Joz. As a result, so the family claims, these changes are the reason that no agreement has been reached.
The Jerusalem Police however, categorically deny that any changes were made to the conditions presented to the family.
Bodies of terrorists have been released in the past for burial after families have agreed to certain preconditions such as discrete funerals at night, the prohibition of incitement and the deposit if financial guarantees.
After the funeral of terrorist Alaa Abu Jamal from Jabel Mukaber turned into a display of hatred and incitement in May, with some 200 East Jerusalem residents crowding outside the cemetery and calling out "Allahu Akbar" and "In blood and spirit we will avenge you, shahid,” Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan instructed the police to stop returning terrorists' bodies to their families for burials.
As a result of the incitement another condition was added by the police, namely that they be the ones to select the location of the burial.
Erdan echoed the police statements that no changes had occurred on the Israeli side. According to the police, the family is simply unwilling to abide by the terms outlined by the police which accounts for the reason that Alyan will not be returned at this stage.
9 aug 2016
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Monday reneged on their promises to release the body of the slain Palestinian youth Bahaa Alyan, after withholding it for 10 months.
Bahaa’s father said in a Facebook post the IOA stipulated the number of marchers in Bahaa’s funeral procession be limited to 20 only.
The father slammed the IOA for dragging its feet over the family’s appeals to bid their son last farewell and bury him in Muslims’ cemetery. He raised alarm bells over the agony endured by Bahaa’s mother, friends, and relatives pending the decision of the Israeli court.
Earlier, on Monday morning, the IOA promised the release of Bahaa’s body within 24 hours’ time.
Awaiting Bahaa’s funeral, an online campaign was launched by pro-Palestine activists under the slogan Zafat Bahaa (Bahaa’s wedding). The campaigners expressed their pride of Bahaa Alyan, who was shot and killed by the Israeli occupation army following an anti-occupation attack on an Israeli bus in Occupied Jerusalem on October 13.
The occupation troops knocked down Bahaa’s family home as part a preplanned policy perpetrated against anti-occupation youths. “Bahaa is the icon of both knowledge and resistance,” said Facebooker Muhammad Abu Nawaf.
“Oh Bahaa, peace be upon you. Bravo; you hit the cowards with a knife and a bullet,” said another. “Our hero is still alive,” wrote Asmaa Ahmad. “You’ll forever remain in our hearts and souls.”
Campaigner Bahar Ibrahim called, meanwhile, for mass participation in Bahaa’s projected funeral procession.
Bahaa’s father said in a Facebook post the IOA stipulated the number of marchers in Bahaa’s funeral procession be limited to 20 only.
The father slammed the IOA for dragging its feet over the family’s appeals to bid their son last farewell and bury him in Muslims’ cemetery. He raised alarm bells over the agony endured by Bahaa’s mother, friends, and relatives pending the decision of the Israeli court.
Earlier, on Monday morning, the IOA promised the release of Bahaa’s body within 24 hours’ time.
Awaiting Bahaa’s funeral, an online campaign was launched by pro-Palestine activists under the slogan Zafat Bahaa (Bahaa’s wedding). The campaigners expressed their pride of Bahaa Alyan, who was shot and killed by the Israeli occupation army following an anti-occupation attack on an Israeli bus in Occupied Jerusalem on October 13.
The occupation troops knocked down Bahaa’s family home as part a preplanned policy perpetrated against anti-occupation youths. “Bahaa is the icon of both knowledge and resistance,” said Facebooker Muhammad Abu Nawaf.
“Oh Bahaa, peace be upon you. Bravo; you hit the cowards with a knife and a bullet,” said another. “Our hero is still alive,” wrote Asmaa Ahmad. “You’ll forever remain in our hearts and souls.”
Campaigner Bahar Ibrahim called, meanwhile, for mass participation in Bahaa’s projected funeral procession.
8 aug 2016
The family of the Palestinian martyr Baha Elaiyan announced their refusal of Israeli conditions for returning back the body of their son which has been detained since last October.
Lawyer Mohammad Elaiyan, the martyr’s father, said in a statement on Sunday that Israeli police summoned the family at the presence of lawyer Mohammad Mahmoud and agreed on releasing the body of their son on condition of the presence of only 15 people and burying him in the Lions Gate after midnight.
Elaiyan was killed while carrying out anti-occupation shooting and stabbing attacks along with his friend prisoner Bilal Abu Ghanem in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
Lawyer Mohammad Elaiyan, the martyr’s father, said in a statement on Sunday that Israeli police summoned the family at the presence of lawyer Mohammad Mahmoud and agreed on releasing the body of their son on condition of the presence of only 15 people and burying him in the Lions Gate after midnight.
Elaiyan was killed while carrying out anti-occupation shooting and stabbing attacks along with his friend prisoner Bilal Abu Ghanem in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
24 july 2016
Dozens of Palestinians including families of prisoners and martyrs whose bodies are detained by Israeli authorities participated in a sit-in at Ibin Rushd Square in al-Khalil on Saturday.
The event aimed at demanding the delivery of martyrs’ bodies and supporting the hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails especially captive Bilal Kayed.
The participants waved martyrs photos and posters calling for returning the bodies of martyrs to their families with no conditions attached.
They stressed the importance of unity in face of the occupation's aggressive practices and called for more events in demand for martyrs’ bodies return.
The participants appealed to all international human rights organizations to put an end to the Israeli violations against civilians and called for protecting the Palestinian children from Israeli crimes.
The event aimed at demanding the delivery of martyrs’ bodies and supporting the hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails especially captive Bilal Kayed.
The participants waved martyrs photos and posters calling for returning the bodies of martyrs to their families with no conditions attached.
They stressed the importance of unity in face of the occupation's aggressive practices and called for more events in demand for martyrs’ bodies return.
The participants appealed to all international human rights organizations to put an end to the Israeli violations against civilians and called for protecting the Palestinian children from Israeli crimes.
