RAMALLAH, Monday, March 18, 2019 (WAFA) – Palestine’s ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Izzat Abdulhadi visited survivors of the mass shootings on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.

Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Riyad al-Malki stated that following the resumption of flights to Christchurch city, Abdulhadi visited three Palestinian survivors being hospitalized in Christchurch hospitals in addition to the wife of Osama Adnan Abu Kweik, 37, a Palestinian killed in Friday’s attack on the two New Zealand mosques.

Abdulhadi extended his condolences to Abu Kweik’s wife on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas and visited another Palestinian survivor who was discharged from hospital.

The Palestinian diplomat would remain in Christchurch pending the returning of the victims’ bodies to families and their burial, and would provide the injured with the necessary assistance.

Islamic tradition calls for a person to be buried as soon as possible after death, ideally within 24 hours.

According to al-Malki, the New Zealand authorities are still identifying the victims’ bodies, and therefore refuse to release them until the completion of the identification process and medical checkup.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Sunday that authorities had started returning identified bodies to families, and all bodies will be returned by Wednesday.

New Zealand police described efforts to identify the victims as "detailed and complex work" that must be completed thoroughly.

"It‘s vital we have certainty around cause of death for any future court proceedings," Detective Superintendent Peter Read said.

Six Palestinians were killed and six others were injured in Friday’s New Zealand mosque attacks that claimed the lives of 50 Muslim worshipers and wounding 50 others, including 12 in intensive care.

K.F.