Israel hands over 91 Palestinian bodies

The bodies were remains of the Palestinians exhumed for the transfer to their families from a cemetery in the Jordan Valley, the Associated Press cited Palestinian official Salem Khileh as saying.

Seventy-nine of the bodies were transported to Ramallah and 12 to the Gaza Strip, with a ceremony to honor the Palestinians expected to be held in both places later in the day.

Israel has withheld the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians in secretive numbered graves since the late 1960s.

Israel described the move as a “humanitarian gesture” and a “confidence-building measure,” expressing hope that the Palestinian Authority (PA) would resume direct talks with Tel Aviv without any preconditions.

The Palestinian side, however, has reiterated its stance, demanding that Tel Aviv halt its illegal settlement activities in the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem) before talks get the go-ahead.

The Palestinian Authority also insisted that any negotiation with Israel must be based on the borders before Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories in Six-Day war of 1967.

MRS/SS

Views: 0

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes