Slain Palestine Lecturer's Body Can Only Be Brought Home If Israeli Soldiers Are Released
According to Israel's defence minister, preventing the transfer of bodies of martyrs from Hamas to Gaza is in line with its policy.
By Jia Vern Tham — 24 Apr 2018, 05:28 PM
On 22 April, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on the Egyptian authorities to prevent the body of Palestinian lecturer, Dr Fadi Al Batsh, to be brought back to Gaza
According to New Straits Times (NST), Lieberman said the Israeli government is implementing its policy to not transfer bodies of Hamas martyrs to the Gaza strip for burial.
Dr Fadi, who was a member of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, was assassinated while he was on his way to morning prayers in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur on 21 April.
Nonetheless, Lieberman stressed that Israel does not have control over the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza strip, as it is under Egyptian sovereignty.
According to The Straits Times, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennet promised to not allow Dr Fadi's body back into Gaza without the release of its soldiers held by Hamas
The report stated that two Israeli civilians are also being held by Hamas in addition to the soldiers.
The bodies of two Israeli soldiers are being retained in Gaza as well.
As of yesterday, 23 April, NST reported that Dr Fadi's family is still waiting for permission from the Palestinian embassy in Malaysia to fly his body back to Gaza
Dr Fadi's widow, Enas Al Batsh (middle) was at the Selayang Hospital yesterday.
Image via New Straits Times"We are still trying, through the Palestinian embassy here, to get permission from Egypt to do so," said Dr Abdul Rahim, a friend of Dr Fadi.
The report also stated that a flight has been booked for today, 24 April, and the family was hoping that they could make it without any problems.