Thousands attend funerals for killed Palestinians

Thousands of Palestinians attended the funerals on Tuesday of three Palestinians who were shot dead by Israeli troops last week after Israel released their bodies Monday.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

24 February, 2016

The funeral for a Khaled Taqataqa in Bethlehem [The New Arab]

Thousands of Palestinians attended the funerals of three young men who were shot dead by Israeli forces in Jerusalem last week after their bodies were released on Monday.

The funeral procession for Omar Muhammad Amro and Mansour Yasir al-Shawarma, both 20, started in Ramallah and finished in their hometown of al-Qubieba north of Jerusalem, where they were buried in the village cemetery.

After the funeral on Tuesday afternoon, clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli forces, who used live ammunition and stun grenades causing injuries and suffocation.

The young men were shot dead while reportedly attempting to carry out an armed attack on Israeli security forces at Damascus Gate outside Jerusalem.

In Bethlehem, Khaled Taqataqa was buried after a funeral procession in Beit Fajar.

Mourners called for Palestinian unity, and for justice for Taqataqa, after he was shot by Israeli soldiers and reportedly left to bleed for more than an hour last Friday.

At least 184 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October, 41 of them under the age of 18.

The current conflict is rooted in frustrations stemming from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation and the complete lack of progress in peace efforts.