In West Bank, Israel denies Jenin families right to bury loved ones at home

As Israel kills dozens of Palestinians in Jenin, it also denies victims’ families the dignity to bury their loved ones.

A relative bids farewell to a martyred relative before burying him, amidst tight Israeli restrictions, in eastern Jenin. Image by Fatma Ibrahim
A Palestinian bids farewell to a relative before burying him amid tight Israeli restrictions in eastern Jenin in the occupied West Bank [Al Jazeera]

Jenin, occupied West Bank, Palestine – For nearly two weeks, 11 bodies lay in the morgues of Jenin as Israeli raids ravaged the city and its refugee camp.

Their families were too frightened to bury them in Jenin because of Israeli snipers, drones and artillery.

“Families are afraid to bury their loved ones in the camp cemetery because Israeli snipers are stationed on high buildings,” Mahmoud al-Saadi, director of emergency services in Jenin, said on Monday. “Some bodies have been in the morgue for over 13 days. We need Israeli clearance just to conduct a burial, and even that has been delayed multiple times.”

Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in an Israeli raid, in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinians killed in an Israeli raid in Jenin on February 3, 2025 [Raneen Sawafta/Reuters]

Honouring the dead

In the time since Israel launched its latest raid on Jenin on January 21, many people have died. At least 30 have been killed by Israeli soldiers while others have died of natural causes.

They lingered, unburied, as their families struggled to lay them to rest.

Advertisement

For 55-year-old Bassam Turkman, who lives in the refugee camp, the sudden death of his 60-year-old brother, Osama, was an “insurmountable loss” deepened by the torment of being unable to give him a proper burial.

Driven from their home, the Turkman family sought refuge in Burqin, a town west of Jenin. But their fragile sense of stability collapsed once again with the eldest brother’s sudden deterioration and death.

For days, Osama’s body lay in the cold limbo of a hospital morgue as the family pondered whether to bury him in Burqin’s unfamiliar soil or cling to the faint chance of returning him to the cemetery in the camp to rest beside the home they were forced to flee.

Bassam pleaded with his family to choose Burqin.

“We grew up believing that honouring the dead meant burying them quickly,” he told Al Jazeera. “Leaving him in the morgue indefinitely just didn’t feel right, especially since the hospital was already overwhelmed with the bodies of those killed during the operation.”

The raid on Jenin comes during a spike in Israeli violence in the West Bank since a fragile ceasefire?halted Israel’s 15-month assault on Gaza, which has killed close to 62,000 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins.

The operation has driven nearly all of Jenin refugee camp’s 20,000 people from their homes, according to the United Nations.

“We are a people who need to visit our dead, to sit by their graves, talk to them and remember,” Bassam said. “Burying our loved ones far from home is a pain in itself.”

Advertisement

But in the end, Osama was laid to rest in Burqin, about 4km (2.5 miles) from Jenin. As Israeli bulldozers tore through the camp’s infrastructure, Bassam and his family stood by the side of Osama’s grave.

Standing beside the Turkmans to perform funeral prayers were members of the al-Khateeb family. They were bidding farewell to 59-year-old Marwan al-Khateeb, who died on the first day of the raids and was buried near Osama in Burqin’s cemetery.

“The occupation shows no respect for the living or the dead. To them, we’re all terrorists,” Bassam lamented.

‘Martyrs’ without proper farewells

On January 28, Israeli forces shot 25-year-old Osama Abu al-Hayja as he stood on the roof of a building. He bled to death as gunfire kept his family and an ambulance from being able to reach him until the next day.

His family was also barred from holding a traditional funeral.

“We wanted to lay Osama to rest alongside the other martyrs,” his older brother, Tareq Abu al-Hayja, said. “But the soldiers sealed the camp. They even blocked roads to keep people from gathering.”

In Jenin, public processions for those killed by Israeli forces have long served as a communal act of both mourning and defiance. Hundreds of people typically gather to accompany the dead to burial sites with families travelling from across the West Bank to join the sombre ceremonies to honour individuals many here regard as “martyrs.”

Families of those killed by Israeli gunshots were forced to bury them without the usual procession that reflects unity and resilience against Israeli occupation.
Families of those killed by Israeli fire are forced to bury them without the usual procession, which reflects unity and resilience against Israeli occupation [Al Jazeera]

The Abu al-Hayja family could not bear the thought of leaving Osama unburied for days, but its members knew they would never be able to give him the farewell a “martyr” deserved.

Advertisement

So they chose to bury Osama in the nearby village of Martyrs’ Triangle, ensuring a dignified farewell despite the circumstances.

“The decision wasn’t easy,” Tareq said, “but we wanted him to have a proper burial, even if it meant doing it far from home.”

On Saturday, after 13 days of violence in the camp, the Palestinian liaison office finally was able to coordinate with its Israeli counterpart to allow funerals for the people whose bodies lay in the morgues.

The Israeli authorities imposed strict conditions: no processions, no public gatherings, only ambulances quietly transporting the dead to the cemetery, each accompanied by just two family members.

Mourners had barely begun preparing for the mass burial when the Israeli military rescinded the coordination, citing “security concerns”.

The delays forced Mahmoud of the emergency services and his team to improvise, burying four people in the eastern district of Jenin, which was less affected by the raid, but the burials of seven others were postponed again.

By Monday, Israeli forces finally permitted the burials of the seven remaining people.

But the mourning processions have been reshaped by Israeli military restrictions: no throngs of mourners, no slogans.

“We’ve always honoured our martyrs together,” one mourner said, declining to give his name for fear of reprisals.

“Now, we bury them in silence.”

This article is published in collaboration with Egab.

Source: Al Jazeera

Advertisement
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top