DaysofPal- The National Campaign to Recover the Bodies of the Martyrs revealed that Israeli occupation authorities are withholding the bodies of 665 Palestinian martyrs in so-called “Cemeteries of Numbers” and morgues.
This ongoing practice, with some cases dating back decades, highlights a grave human rights violation amid international indifference.
Withholding Palestinian Martyrs
According to the campaign’s press statement obtained by Sanad News Agency, the Israeli occupation continues to withhold the remains of Palestinian martyrs under harsh conditions.
Since the escalation of Israeli aggression in October 2023, an additional 259 martyrs’ bodies have been withheld. Among those whose bodies remain unreturned are 67 individuals from the prisoner movement, nine women, and 59 children under the age of 18.
The latest victims include the martyrs from Al-Far’a refugee camp, whose bodies were seized just yesterday, Wednesday. Their detention adds to a growing list of Palestinians who have paid the ultimate price for their struggle against occupation.
Unresolved File of Human Rights Violations
The campaign emphasized that these figures exclude bodies held in Gaza, where the siege prevents accurate documentation. However, Israeli sources indicate that over 1,500 bodies are stored at the “Sde Teiman” camp in the Negev desert, though official confirmation remains lacking. The continued refusal to return these bodies is described as a deliberate attempt to erase Palestinian national identity and perpetuate psychological trauma among families and communities.
What Are ‘Cemeteries of Numbers’?
‘Cemeteries of Numbers’ refer to anonymous burial sites where bodies are interred beneath metal plates marked with numbers rather than names. These locations often lack basic standards for proper burials, with some even erased due to natural erosion. Researchers have identified four such cemeteries within the 1948 territories:
1. Jisr Banat Ya’qub Cemetery: Located near the convergence of Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied Palestinian territories, it holds the remains of hundreds killed during and after the 1982 war.
2. Bir al-Maksour Cemetery: Situated between Jericho and the Jordan Valley, this site bears a Hebrew sign labeling it a “Cemetery for the Victims of the Enemy.”
3. Revidim Cemetery: Found in the Jordan Valley.
4. Shihata Cemetery: Located near Wadi al-Hamam, north of Tiberias.
These clandestine cemeteries underscore Israel’s systematic approach to handling Palestinian remains without transparency or respect for dignity.
Organ Theft Accusation
One of the most alarming aspects of this crisis involves allegations of organ theft. Multiple reports suggest that bodies returned to families exhibit missing organs and crude stitching, raising suspicions of organ harvesting. A particularly controversial case involves the establishment of the “Israeli Skin Bank” in 1985, which allegedly harvested skin from Palestinian martyrs to treat injured Israeli soldiers—a practice deemed ethically dubious yet endorsed by the Chief Rabbinical Council.
Photos circulating over the years further corroborate claims of mutilated bodies kept in refrigerators before being released to grieving families. Such practices deepen the anguish of already traumatized communities and fuel accusations of exploitation and dehumanization.
Call for Justice
The National Campaign to Recover the Bodies of the Martyrs demands immediate action to resolve this longstanding issue. It calls on the international community to pressure Israeli occupation into releasing all withheld bodies and ensuring accountability for these egregious violations of human rights.
The ongoing refusal to address this issue ensures that generations of Palestinians continue to endure cycles of suffering and erasure. Advocates stress that returning the bodies of martyrs is not merely a legal obligation, but a moral imperative—one rooted in humanity and justice. Without resolution, the cycle of indignity and pain will persist, leaving countless families searching for closure while confronting the grim reality of life under occupation.
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