The Prisoners’ Media Office affirmed that the handover by the enemy of 54 bodies of Palestinian martyrs, in addition to 66 boxes containing human remains and body parts to Gaza’s Ministry of Health through the International Committee of the Red Cross, has reopened the file of the crime of retaining the bodies of Palestinian martyrs. The office stressed that this practice in itself constitutes one of the humanitarian crimes committed by the enemy against the Palestinian people.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the office explained that the continued policy of holding bodies in so-called “numbered graves” and in the enemy’s morgues, and denying families their natural right to bid farewell to their loved ones and bury them in a manner befitting their dignity, represents a blatant violation of international conventions and humanitarian norms. It added that this reflects a systematic approach of collective punishment and abuse against the Palestinian people, even after death.
The office pointed out that the delivery of human remains and body parts of Palestinian martyrs raises serious concerns about the possibility of tampering with bodies or organ theft, calling for the opening of an independent and transparent international investigation under the supervision of specialized legal and medical bodies to uncover the circumstances of this crime and ensure that those responsible are not granted impunity.
It emphasized that the crime of retaining bodies rises to the level of a war crime and a crime against humanity under the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, placing urgent legal and moral responsibilities on the international community to halt this criminal policy.
The Prisoners’ Media Office called for the immediate disclosure of the true number of bodies still being held by the enemy, their unconditional release, and serious efforts to hold accountable those responsible for these grave violations that breach international law and undermine the most basic human values.
