Palestinians riot in Hebron during prisoner's funeral
Dozens of Palestinians pelt soldiers with stones, set tires on fire ahead of funeral of Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh who died of cancer in Israeli jail. Two Palestinians killed by IDF buried in Tulkarem
Palestinians are rioting in Hebron as three Palestinians who died this week are being buried in the city and in Tulkarem.
Dozens began to hurl stones at IDF soldiers and set tires on fire in Hebron ahead of the funeral of Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh, the Palestinian prisoner who died of cancer earlier this week. The IDF is expecting the riots to continue throughout the day.
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Two Palestinians, who were killed Wednesday near the settlement of Einav after hurling firebombs at an IDF post, were buried in Tulkarem.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel for causing escalation in the West Bank over the past two days. In a statement released from his office, Abbas said the Palestinian Authority cannot stay silent in the face of events in the West Bank and noted that "the Israeli government is liable for the repercussions of these incidents which will harm American efforts to renew negotiations."
Abu Hamdiyeh's funeral (Photo: AFP)
Photo: AP
Abbas with Norwegian foreign minister (Photo: EPA)
During the riots, a police officer and an Israeli woman were lightly hurt by stones in the Ramallah area. The officer sustained a head injury and was treated at the scene. The woman was hit in her leg near the village al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya and was also treated at the scene.
Funeral of Palestinians who attacked IDF post (Photo: Reuters)
Also Thursday, some 100 Palestinians hurled stones at security forces near the settlement of Yitzhar. The soldiers responded by using crowd-dispersal means. No injuries were reported but an Israeli car and a Palestinian vehicle were damaged.
Riots in Hebron (Video: Eli Mandelbaum)
Abu Hamdiyeh, 64, was a Hamas member who recruited the terrorist who planned to carry out an attack on a Jerusalem coffee shop in 2002. That same year, he was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of attempted murder, membership in a terror organization and possession of weapons.
Funerals in Tulkarem (Video: Reuters)
Following his death, Palestinian prisoners began to riot in a number of Israeli prisons, including Ramon, Ketziot, Eshel and Nafha.
Riots in Hebron (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Photo: Gil Yohanan
An autopsy revealed that he suffered from a malignant tumor in the vocal chords with metastasis in the lungs, neck, chest, liver, spine and ribs.
This however did not serve to ease tensions and Israeli authorities were criticized for their handling of his case.
Unrest in Hebron (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
On Tuesday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the death of the terminally ill security prisoner.
"The Palestinian presidency holds the government of Netanyahu responsible for the martyrdom of prisoner Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh today in the prisons of the Israeli occupation," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said in a statement.
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