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Gaza Health Ministry buries 15 unknown remains after identification period expires

Gaza Health Ministry buries 15 unknown remains after identification period expires

"The Ministry of Health in Gaza buried 15 unidentified bodies of Palestinians in Deir al-Balah cemetery on Monday, after the legal period allocated for identification efforts came to an end following their transfer from Israel. Footage shows burial teams at the Deir al-Balah cemetery laying the bodies to rest and performing funeral prayers. Ahmed Dhair, Head of the Martyrs’ Bodies Management Committee at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, said that Israel has so far transferred a total of 345 bodies in several batches, of which only 99 have been identified. “The legal period for the latest batch, which includes 15 unidentified bodies, has now expired,” he said. Dhair also highlighted the challenges faced during the identification process, noting that “the Israeli authorities have not provided us with the names of the martyrs, or the circumstances and dates of their deaths.” “We are carrying out a basic process because we don’t have the advanced equipment required for these cases, such as MRI machines and CT scanners, which are only used for emergencies. In addition, DNA testing is unavailable in Gaza,” he explained. An official at the Ministry of Awqaf’s Corpses Department, Ziad Obied, explained that the bodies are being buried temporarily in the Deir al-Balah cemetery “until a special laboratory is established, with the support of the ICRC, to conduct DNA tests and identify the bodies.” “The bodies will then be handed over to their families,” he noted. Israel and Hamas signed a peace agreement that came into effect on October 10 as part of the 20-point 'Trump Plan'. The deal included an immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of all hostages - both living and deceased - and the entry of humanitarian aid. "

Sowing seeds of justice - Kenyan farmers welcome high court decision to overturn ban on seed-sharing

Sowing seeds of justice - Kenyan farmers welcome high court decision to overturn ban on seed-sharing

"Kenyan farmers are sowing the seeds of freedom after the High Court overturned a long-contested law that barred them from sharing and selling indigenous seeds. Footage filmed in Nanyuki on Sunday shows farmers tending to their crops, with one arranging a batch of maize cobs. "We used to fear even having some seeds, because when you are found with them you will be taken to court and be fined," explained one farmer. "For now we are very happy, because we are going to preserve our seeds and assist one another and no farmer will lack seeds," she added. Habiba Abdullahi Wabera emphasised that seed-sharing enables farmers not only to save money on purchasing seeds but also to generate income by selling them. "We were having a lot of problems earlier, because most of the seeds we had we used to buy from shops and they were expensive - and after planting them they could not germinate," added another farmer, Rebecca Wanjiru. Meanwhile, others pointed to the ruling's impact on future generations, claiming it could encourage the youth to take up farming. "It's a good opportunity for the upcoming generation and even the youth who don't have jobs. They will have to embrace farming and they benefit for the next five years," said Abdi Nassir. On Tuesday, the Kenya High Court declared key provisions of the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act 'unconstitutional' and decriminalised the practice of saving and sharing indigenous seeds. Under the 2012 seed law, Kenyan farmers risked up to two years in prison and a fine of 1 million shillings ($7,700) for sharing seeds through their community seed banks. Activists argued that the law - which aimed to regulate seed production and processing - disproportionately benefits multinational corporations at the expense of local farmers' rights and biodiversity."