Israel Says Holding Body of Palestinian Killed in Clash
The Israeli army said Friday it was holding the body of a Palestinian shot dead in a West Bank clash earlier this week, ending days of uncertainty over his fate.
The announcement follows a policy change last month in which Israel said it would not return the bodies of any Palestinian killed during or as a result of an anti-Israeli attack.
On Monday, 27-year-old Palestinian Samir Hamidi was killed by Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank settlement of Einav after reportedly throwing petrol bombs.
"Troops spotted three assailants who hurled Molotov cocktails at them," the army said Friday.
"The troops responded with fire and a hit of one of the assailants was identified," the army added.
In an initial statement on Monday, the army had not mentioned Hamidi was killed, but his death was then reported by Palestinian media. On Friday, the army named him.
"The body of the terrorist is being held by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) according to existing procedures, until a decision is made in accordance with the guidance from elected officials on the issue of holding the bodies of terrorists," the army statement added.
The family of Hamidi, from the village of Beit Lid, close to the Israeli settlement at Einav, have refused to receive condolence visits until his body is returned.
Security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority has been at a standstill since May, in protest over Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank, a move since suspended.
Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem told AFP that in "the absence of any coordination", they were told of Hamidi's death by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In early September, Israel said it would withhold the bodies of all slain Palestinian militants.
Prior to the decision, Israel retained only the bodies of militants from Hamas, the Islamist rulers of Gaza.
At the time, Defence Minister Benny Gantz said the policy change was part of a broader campaign of "deterrence".
09 October 2020, 16:50
01
Israel withholding the bodies of Hamas militants is reasonable as Hamas initiated and maintains this policy on Israeli bodies. Israel should not initiate such a policy with the PA unless the PA does it first.
09 October 2020, 19:29
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With whom can Israel discuss returning the body of the terrorist when the PA refuses to talk to them.
10 October 2020, 05:12
10
You are a hypocrite phillipo. These contacts are still ongoing and could have been done through the red cross. You just would say anything to justify any action by the criminal Israeli regime
