Occupied Jerusalem: The Israeli military handed over the body of 45-year-old Ebrahim Al Gharooz Baradei after an Israeli occupation soldier shot him dead on Thursday.
The murder prompted fresh clashes in Hebron on Friday and Saturday. Thursday’s murder occurred near the Al Arroub refugee camp between Hebron and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank and initially Israeli authorities were hesitant to hand over the body.
Israeli army sources say the man was shot following a “misunderstanding” and the killing would be investigated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon two weeks ago to withhold the bodies of Palestinians killed in the West Bank to prevent their funerals escalating into protests.
A wave of violence that erupted in October has killed 201 Palestinians and 28 Israelis.
Israel’s refusal to return the bodies of attackers has added to Palestinian resentment.
Officials in the Jewish state are divided over the issue, with senior figures in the military believing it stokes tensions.
Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan supports holding back Palestinian bodies from relatives, saying he wants to avoid funerals becoming political rallies.
