Clashes after funeral of Palestinian Arafat Jadarat, who died in Israeli jail

Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Sa’ir, close to Hebron, yesterday for the funeral of Arafat Jadarat. Many political factions were present, with flags showing a small presence from groups such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad among the predominantly Fatah colours.  

Palestinians carry the body of Arafat Jaradat as it arrives at his home before his funeral in the West Bank village of Sa'ir, 25 February, 2013 Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Jadarat, aged 30, died in the Israeli Megido prison on Saturday. He had been detained a week earlier by Israeli forces in the West Bank for throwing stones at Settlers' cars.

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Report in Sa'ir

Ruth Michaelson

Autopsy results published on Monday revealed that Jaradat did not die from a heart attack as the Israeli Prison Service initially stated. Instead, broken ribs and signs of lashes have led to torture allegations from the Palestinian Authority, which Israel denies.

As people from Hebron to Sa’ir lined the streets to pay tribute to Jaradat, Fatah’s armed wing, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, vowed to avenge his death.

One mourner, who wished to remain anonymous, told RFI that the incident could ignite tension:

“I think such events aggravate the situation to the worst, you know? We here, in this land, believe in peace. But such events put barriers in front of peace.”

Clashes continued in hotspots across the West Bank on Monday, with at least 25 injuries from rubber bullets and tear gas reported, and one from live ammunition.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded to a demand from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he step in to quell potential violence, by saying that “Israel wants chaos” but that “we will not be dragged into it.”