Israel returns bodies of 84 Palestinians taken from their graves

Healthcare system continues to deteriorate as Israeli attacks kill health workers and take ambulances out of service

Medical personnel prepare the bodies of 47 Palestinians during a mass funeral in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 7, 2024. Israeli forces have returned 84 exhumed bodies from Gaza cemeteries to Palestinian authorities. AFPShow less

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Israeli forces have handed over the remains of 84 people exhumed from cemeteries in Gaza, Palestinian authorities have said.

The bodies of the Palestinians were taken from graves in the Turkish cemetery, south-west of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, state news agency Wafa reported.

Al Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza had said on Monday that it was making preparations to receive the bodies.

In January, Geneva-based Euromed Human Rights Monitor said Israel had “desecrated hundreds of graves” and “stole bodies” from across 12 Gaza cemeteries.

Israel has said it exhumed bodies to discover if they were remains of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.

On Monday, the Palestinian enclave's Health Ministry said that Gaza's ambulance and emergency services no longer have the capacity to “respond to all calls and missions”.

At least 131 ambulances have been the target of Israeli attacks since the war began on October 7, Gaza's media office said in its latest tally, adding that 126 were completely taken out of service.

Paramedics and first responders have also been detained and killed by Israeli forces while carrying out their duties as the siege continues to obstruct the delivery of spare parts and fuel needed for the vehicles.

At least 310 health workers have been arrested and 885 killed since the start of the war, according to the tally.

In addition to the incapacitated emergency services, northern Gaza no longer has functioning laboratories or hospitals, the ministry added, while blood banks have shut down in the southern city of Rafah.

“We want to appeal to international bodies and institutions to bring blood units from outside the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said.

At least 40 people have been killed and 71 others were injured in three Israeli attacks between Sunday and Monday, health authorities announced.

This brings the death toll to more than 39,600 people killed and 91,469 wounded since the war began.

Israeli war ships fired at Nuseirat refugee camp on Monday morning. More Israeli shelling hit the south of Gaza city, while air strikes hit the east of Khan Younis.

The Israeli military raided several cities and demolished homes in the occupied West Bank, killing a woman and arresting five men, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported on Monday.

Palestinian paramedics inspect a destroyed ambulance in Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip, on July 16, 2024. AFP

Those arrested include Bilal Hamamra, 19, Zaid Hamamra, 22 and Marwan Zaoul, Zaki Zaoul and Muhammad Abu Yabes, all 21, according to Wafa.

The five, from the village of Husan west of Bethlehem, were arrested on Monday morning during a raid on their homes.

Meanwhile, Palestinian detainee Wafaa Jarrar, 50, died of her injuries two months after she was arrested in her home in Jenin.

Ms Jarrar was hurt during her arrest and had “her legs amputated from above the knee”, the Prisoners' Affairs Authority and the Prisoners' Club said.

“We hold the occupation fully responsible for the martyrdom of Jarrar, who is one of dozens of detainees who have been injured since the beginning of the war of extermination, and have been subjected to systematic medical crimes,” it added.