SAFA -  Palestinian national and Islamic factions in Ramallah and al-Bireh have urged widespread public participation in events across Palestinian cities this week, calling for the return of the bodies of Palestinians being held by Israeli occupation forces.

The call followed a meeting Sunday in which the factions said the continued detention of thousands of Palestinian bodies constituted a serious violation requiring international investigation and legal accountability.

The groups urged human rights organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to establish effective mechanisms to address conditions faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

They also called for specialized medical teams to be allowed to visit the prisons and publicly report their findings.

The factions warned that escalating settler attacks, settlement expansion, and plans for forced displacement require urgent international intervention to protect Palestinians and address continuing violations.

They also called for an inclusive Palestinian national dialogue aimed at rebuilding the political system and preserving unified national representation under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Such efforts, they said, would strengthen Palestinian unity and counter attempts to deepen internal divisions. 

Palestinian rights organizations and political factions approved a nationwide program of events last week aimed at keeping the issue of Palestinian bodies held by the IOF and missing Palestinians on the national and international agenda.

The main events are scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, at noon in several Palestinian governorates. Organizers will demand the return of the bodies and emphasize families’ right to receive their relatives, bury them, and conduct funeral rites with dignity.

Events will continue Thursday, August 27, under the theme “In Solidarity With the Families of Martyrs Whose Bodies Are Held in Morgues and Numbered Cemeteries.”

Organizers plan to visit families of Palestinians whose bodies remain in Israeli custody in cities, towns, and villages across the West Bank, expressing solidarity with relatives campaigning for the return of their loved ones.

Events are expected to take place simultaneously in cities and villages across the West Bank. A central event is also planned in the Gaza Strip, although organizers said its date would be announced later.

The Palestinian campaign will coincide with activities planned in several countries in coordination with international groups supporting Palestinian rights. Organizers said the aim is to bring greater international attention to the issue and build support for demands that Israel return the bodies.

The campaign follows reports from participating organizations that the IOF continues to hold the remains of approximately 1,700 Palestinians.

The organizations said the figure represents more than a statistic, describing each case as a family denied the opportunity to say goodbye to a loved one, conduct a burial, and observe traditional mourning rituals.

A complete schedule of nationwide events is expected to be released Monday, with details on demonstrations and activities planned across different regions.

The campaign comes as Palestinian rights groups continue to press international organizations to address the issue of bodies held by IOF and seek mechanisms that would enable families to recover the remains of their relatives.