Israeli court says bodies of Jenin dead must be handed over

Israel's army must hand over the bodies of Palestinians killed in Jenin to the Palestinians

Israel's army must hand over the bodies of Palestinians killed in Jenin to the Palestinians. A court settlement stops Israeli plans to bury bodies from the West Bank refugee camp in unmarked graves.

Under the Israeli Supreme Court decision, Red Cross representatives would accompany Israeli military teams searching for bodies.

With the agreement of the local army commander, representatives of the Palestinian Red Crescent could also participate, the decision said.

Mohamed Barakeh, an Arab Israeli lawmaker who petitioned the court, described the decision as "positive." The Red Cross and Red Crescent have agreed to participate, he said.

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The army announced last week it would bury the bodies in unmarked graves in a northern cemetery, prompting a Palestinian outcry and accusations Israel was trying to cover up the nature and scale of deaths inside the camp.

The petition filed by Arab Israeli lawmakers blocked the movement of any bodies.

Military attorney Malkiel Blass indicated the army would be satisfied with the arrangement the court ultimately approved.

"It is the position of the defendant (army) that the burial will be carried out quickly by Palestinian authorities," the court decision said, adding that if the Palestinians stalled in burying bodies, the army could "bring the bodies to immediate burial."

The death toll in the camp hasn't been verifiable, with access to the camp extremely limited. Israel's army has estimated the death toll at 100 Palestinians; the Palestinians claim as many as 500 people died.