Israel expanding policy of withholding Palestinian bodies to use them as bargaining chips: Adalah
The Israeli government has informed the Supreme Court that it will continue withholding the body of Walid Daqqa, a Palestinian citizen of Israel who died in prison, the human rights group Adalah says, slamming what it describes as Israel’s “longstanding policy of withholding Palestinian bodies in order to use them as bargaining chips”.
The government submitted an update to the court ahead of Thursday’s hearing on a petition filed on behalf of Daqqa’s family by Adalah. Daqqa’s body has been withheld since he died of cancer on April 7.
“Military orders are [now] being used to detain the bodies of Palestinian citizens for political purposes, illustrating that citizenship does not shield Palestinians from Israeli oppression. Israel is denying Palestinians the right to bury their deceased promptly and with dignity,” Adalah said in a statement.
“This policy not only contravenes international law, but exposes yet again Israel’s system of subjugation and repression of Palestinians, both in life and death.”
Since October 7, the police have released the bodies of two Palestinian citizens of Israel after Adalah petitioned the Supreme Court on behalf of the families of the deceased.
Displaced Palestinians grow food between tents using dirty water
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has shared photos showing siblings Luay and Najah using dirty water to grow food between tents for displaced people in Gaza.
They were displaced from their homes to Rafah in southern Gaza. “We hope to return to our homes and farms, knowing they have all been destroyed,” UNRWA quoted them as saying.
“We hope to return to our homes and farms, knowing they have all been destroyed”
Luay & Najah, siblings, were forcibly displaced to #Rafah. In between tents and using dirty water, they grow food to share with their neighbors
Families in #Gaza have to be protected, #CeasefireNow pic.twitter.com/mG2wPWHuGd
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) June 12, 2024
Gaza’s Government Media Office marks 250 days of war
The Government Media Office has released statistics to mark the 250th day of Israel’s war on Gaza. Here are some of what it reported:
- 37,202 people in Gaza have been documented as killed, and another 10,000 people are missing.
- 15,694 children have been killed.
- 33 people have died due to famine.
- 498 medical staff have been killed.
- 150 journalists have been killed.
- 70 percent of the victims are women and children.
- 17,000 children are living without either or with only one of their parents.
- 5,000 people from Gaza have been detained.
- 79,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped by Israeli forces.
- 206 archaeological and heritage sites have been destroyed.
- Initial losses from the destruction are estimated at $33bn.
The ministry says more than 10,000 cancer patients “are at a risk of dying and require urgent treatment”. In a report, it also said:
- 71,338 Palestinians have viral hepatitis infections due to displacement.
- 60,000 pregnant women are in danger of losing their babies because of a lack of healthcare.
- 350,000 chronic patients are at risk due to lack of medication.
