RAMALLAH, May 30, 2012 (WAFA) – Israel is expected to release on Thursday remains of 91 Palestinians killed in action since 1967 whose bodies have been kept in numbered graves in makeshift Israeli cemeteries, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.

Israel agreed for the release of the remains as good will gesture to the Palestinian Authority even though families of the Palestinian fighters said the release of the remains was a right and not a favor.

According to a list of names of the fighters, most of them have been killed in the last 10 years in military operations against Israeli targets. The names also included fighters killed as early as 1975.

Activists who have been pushing for the release of the remains said Israel holds at least 350 bodies, about 50 are considered missing in action. They expressed hope that Israel would release the remaining corpses within a short time.

They said Israel should do DNA test on the remains to properly identify them since remains of several fighters were put together in the same grave without any concern for the sanctity of the dead person.

Special ceremonies are planned for the remains when they arrive in Ramallah on Thursday, said officials.

The remains will be put in coffins wrapped in the Palestinian flag and will be given official funeral at the presidential headquarters in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas, said activists.

M.S.