Palestinian protestors demand the bodies of people who died in detention

Ramallah: Protestors on Tuesday demanded that Israel release the bodies of Palestinians who died in custody. At least 11 people were injured when Israeli forces clashed with them at the Qalandia checkpoint and fired bullets and used tear gas.

Dozens of Palestinians were seen marching from the Al-Amari refugee camp, south of Ramallah. The Palestine Red Crescent Society told Arab News that its medics treated someone who was shot in the leg. Eight others were treated for tear gas inhalation. Two were reported to have received burns after being hit with gas canisters.

Israel is allegedly holding on to the bodies of 17 Palestinians including five women who died in detention. Protesters included families of the victims and representatives of civil society. According to Palestinian reports, 68 people have gone missing since the beginning of the Israeli occupation in 1967. Tel Aviv authorities have also held the bodies of 256 Palestinians since resuming the policy of kidnapping bodies in October 2015.

Protestors have been calling on the international community to hold Israel accountable and said the refusal to return the bodies is violating human rights laws. They added that Israel is trying to pressure Hamas into releasing four Israeli soldiers who went missing in Gaza.

Ahmed Ghuneim, a Fatah leader in Jerusalem, told Arab News that Palestine should approach international courts because Israel will not voluntarily release the bodies. He added that the silence around the issue has made Israel believe that its behaviour is "normal and acceptable".