Anti-occupation intifada in 80th day

As the Palestinian anti-occupation intifada entered its 80th day on Sunday morning, Palestinians in the Negev participated in the funeral procession of Muhanad al-Aqabi after the Israeli authorities finally delivered his body to his family.

Sheikh of the Aqabi Tribe in the Negev in southern 1948-occupied Palestine, Sheikh Said al-Aqabi said that the family refused some of the conditions for the delivery of his body and accepted others after which his body was handed over to his family at midnight Saturday.

He pointed out that the Israeli authorities put the condition that no more than 50 persons should participate in the funeral of Muhanad.

The Israeli authorities have been withholding the body of Muhanad since 18/10/2015 when he was killed by Israeli policemen after shooting and killing an Israeli policemen and a settler and wounding 11 others at the central bus station in Beersheba.

The Israeli authorities have since then turned down several appeals by his family for the delivery of his body that culminated with protests and a general strike for Arab schools.

129 Palestinians have already been killed in the intifada, including 26 minors.