Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Thousands of Palestinians accompanied the body of Muhammad Abu Khdeir to his final resting place, after Friday prayers. The family had asked to bury the boy yesterday, but police released his body only today.
The 17-year-boy was abducted and killed in the early hours of Wednesday. It is thought that his death was carried out in reprisal for the murder of three Israeli students, the most probable explanation for many.
People waited for hours to bury the teenager. When it was time, youths carried on their shoulders the body wrapped in the Palestinian flag amid crowds chanting, "We have had enough!" "Allah Akbar!" and "We sacrifice our blood for you!" The funeral was held at Shufat.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, the Israeli military geared up for possible riots and violence, because of the funeral and the date, the first Friday of Ramadan, which usually sees tens of thousands of Muslims gather on the Temple Mount.
Today, just 8,000 took part in the prayers at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, police said.
The main reason is Israel's ban on worshippers under 50, which it imposed for fear of riots, which has led many Palestinians to stay away.
Nevertheless, clashes did break out between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers in the area of Ras al-Amud.