Pictures- Jaffa: A demonstration requesting the release of detained Martyrs’ bodies
Palestinians carried out a sit-in on Tuesday across from the Institute of Forensic Medicine “Abu Kbeir” in the city of Jaffa requesting to release the bodies of 8 Martyrs that have been detained in the occupation’s freezers for several months.
The Martyrs’ families who did not receive their children’s bodies, Jerusalemite figures and members of the Israeli Knesset participated in the demonstration.
Signs were held by the participants saying “We want our sons” as well as the Martyrs’ names and dates of Martyrdom. Participants also held a coffin with the Martyrs’ names written on it.
The participants requested immediate release of the Martyrs’ bodies. Mohammad Alayan, father of Martyr Baha’, explained that the occupation authorities want to punish the dead and living by their policy of detaining the bodies. He explained that the families off all eight Martyrs that are still detained have serious doubts about the condition of the bodies. They have not seen them yet and were not allowed to even identify the bodies. He said that the occupation authorities are reserving the facts and hiding them from the Martyrs’ families as well as the media.
Alayan added that part of the collective punishment policy practiced against Palestinians, the Israeli authorities are still detaining the bodies of 8 Martyrs that passed away months ago and have detained the bodies of 120 Martyrs since the beginning of the latest popular uprising. Some Martyrs were released under strict conditions and after being detained for long durations.
He pointed out that despite the recommendation made by the Israeli Supreme Court to the Israeli police to release the detained bodies before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan; the Israeli authorities are still refusing to release the bodies under the pretext that their families will carry out funerals for them that will look like a Palestinian festival.
The head of follow-up committee in the 1948 lands, Mohammad Barakeh, said: “Detaining Martyrs’ bodies aims to take revenge from the Martyr and his family in order to break their will. Today, we are requesting the release of all detained Martyrs’ bodies.”
Detained bodies:
Martyrs Thaer Abu Ghazaleh, Baha’ Alayan, Abdel Muhsen Hassouneh, Mohammad Abu Khalaf, Mohammad Kaloti, Abdel Malek Abu Khroub, Abdel Hamid Abu Sroor and Ansar Harsheh.
