Stun grenades and rubber bullets: IDF and Palestinians clash following prisoner's funeral
Thousands of Palestinian mourners have attended the West Bank funeral of Arafat Jaradat, whose death in an Israeli prison fueled violent clashes. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of inciting “chaos” as more riots followed the burial.
Up to 25,000 Palestinians turned out for Jaradat’s funeral in
the village of Sair on Monday, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Israeli soldiers were out in force on the periphery of Sair, with
masked militants in full battle regale underscoring the tense
atmosphere.
Half a dozen gunmen from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades let off
bursts of automatic fire into the air after the mass procession
carried Jaradat’s body from a hospital in the southern West Bank
city of Hebron to his home village.
"We sacrifice our souls and blood for you, our martyr!"
mourners cried out.
Hundreds of Palestinians hurled stones at Israeli security forces
in the West Bank following the funeral, prompting them to deploy
tear gas and stun grenades.
Around a hundred people also clashed with Israeli Defense Forces
(IDF) outside the prison were Jaradat died.
Palestinian witnesses said that around 10 people were wounded by IDF fire in the West Bank town of Beitunia, near the Ofer military compound, Haaretz reported. The same source also said that two Palestinian teenagers and one Israeli child were wounded in separate clashes.
The IDF confirmed that half a dozen Palestinians were wounded, but denied the use of live ammunition, saying all the casualties were caused by rubber bullets.
Jaradat, 30, was arrested last Monday for his alleged
involvement in a stone-throwing incident last November in which one
IDF soldier was injured. During his detainment, Jaradat was
interrogated by Israel’s internal intelligence service – Shin Bet –
and would later die on Saturday in Megiddo prison.
Following an autopsy on Sunday, Palestinian officials said Jaradat
died after being tortured. Israel said the results of the autopsy
were inclusive, and the injuries Jaradat sustained such as broken
ribs may have occurred while he was receiving CPR.
Meanwhile, the UN has called for an independent inquiry into the death of Arafat Jaradat.
"The United Nations expects the autopsy to be followed
by an independent and transparent investigation into the
circumstances of Mr. Jaradat's death, the results of which should
be made public as soon as possible," UN Middle East peace envoy
Robert Serry said on Monday.
Reap what you sow
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas blamed Israel
for the recent escalation of violence, accusing them of
deliberately killing Palestinian children in order to “sow anger” amongst them.
"The Israelis want chaos ... We
will not allow them to drag us into it and to mess with the lives
of our children and our youth," Abbas told reporters from
his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Monday.
Abbas demanded an inquiry into Jaradat’s death and challenged
Israel’s detention of some 4,700 Palestinians.
"We won't allow our prisoners to
remain behind bars for life due to unfounded charges,” he
said.
Abbas’ charge that Israel is fueling chaos in the West Bank comes
in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
“unequivocal demand” on
Sunday that the Palestinian leadership “calm the territory.”
Abbas has said he will not allow a third armed Intifada like the
second 2000-2005 uprising which claimed 3,000 Palestinian lives and
1,000 Israeli’s.
But an ongoing hunger strike by four Palestinian prisoners which
inspired a wave of violent protests last week, has revived fears
that a dramatic escalation of hostilities could be forthcoming.
On Sunday, Palestinian leaders warned that the death of any of the
four hunger strikers could spark a wave of unrest which may be
beyond their power to control.
