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<div class="header reader-header reader-show-element"> <font
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href="https://imemc.org/article/israel-still-holding-253-slain-palestinians/">https://imemc.org/article/israel-still-holding-253-slain-palestinians/</a></font>
<h1 class="reader-title">Israel Still Holding the Bodies of 253
Slain Palestinians<br>
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<div class="reader-estimated-time">August 6, 2019<br>
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<p dir="LTR">Israeli occupation authorities are holding
the bodies of 253 Palestinians in the “numbers”
cemetery and 45 bodies in refrigerators, the National
Campaign reported, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media
Agency.</p>
<p dir="LTR">The coordinator of the campaign, Salwa
Hammad, said in a statement, Monday, that the official
and popular efforts are ongoing until the return of the
bodies, noting efforts to raise awareness of their
cause, internationally.</p>
<p dir="LTR">They announced the 27<sup>th</sup> of August
as the national day of commemoration, and have organized
many popular activities to celebrate this day, calling
for their return.</p>
<p dir="LTR">Occupation authorities are still holding some
253 bodies in private graves, in what is called the
“Numbers Cemetery”. The occupation had buried 4 of the
bodies in these graves, after keeping them in
refrigerators.</p>
<p dir="LTR">Authorities have been holding Palestinian
bodies for many years, using them as a means of
returning their captures soldiers from Gaza.</p>
<p dir="LTR">The Knesset approved, in February of 2018, a
law which attempts to justify this act, with the primary
reading; 57 members in favor, 11 against,11 abstentions.</p>
<p dir="LTR">The law gave Israeli occupation police the
right to hold the bodies and impose conditions on
funeral ceremonies, as well as the location and manner
of any burial.</p>
<p dir="LTR">Under the draft law, Israeli police are not
required to return any bodies unless they are given some
form of assurance that the funeral will not present a
chance to support “terrorism and incitement”.</p>
<p dir="LTR">The numbers cemetery is a closed military
site. The tombstones are marked with numbered plates
instead of names. Access to them is prohibited, for
relatives and human rights institutions.</p>
<p dir="LTR"><em>(edited for the IMEMC by c h r i s @ i m
e m c . o r g)</em></p>
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