Monday, September 6, 2010

Israel 'holding remains' of Palestinians killed in 1969

NABLUS (Ma’an) -- Israel has not returned the bodies of two Palestinians killed 41 years ago in the northern West Bank, relatives said Sunday.

Ahraf Othman, from Al-Majdal village south of Nablus, said his father Issa was killed by Israeli soldiers on 5 September 1969, and Muhammad Fazi from Qusra, north of the city, was killed on the same day 41 years ago Sunday.

The men, both Fatah operatives, died in a military operation near Jamma'In and Beit Furik, he said.

"I have an official certificate from Israeli forces proving that they killed my father, and all I want is to get his body back," Ashraf said adding that he would cooperate with the Palestinian National Campaign for the Release of Martyrs' Bodies to file a lawsuit against the Israeli government to bury his father in his village.

Last month, Israeli authorities delivered the remains of Mashhur Talab Al-Aruri to his village near Ramallah, 34 years after he was killed. It was not clear why his body was held for so long.