Скачать или смотреть Thousands attend funeral of political activist shot and killed by Israeli forces

Al-Walaja, occupied West Bank -- Around 2,000 mourners marched on Friday in the Bethlehem-area village of al-Walaja for the funeral of slain Basil al-Araj.

Al-Araj, 34, was killed on March 6 during an Israeli military raid at the home where he had been hiding out for two months after he was released by the Palestinian Authority in October and forced into hiding by Israeli forces who reportedly raided his family home 11 times between October and March.

Israeli authorities said the political activist and philosopher exchanged gunfire with Israeli soldiers during the raid, resulting in his death. No injuries were reported among Israeli soldiers carrying out the raid, however doctors at the hospital which received al-Araj’s remains on Friday told Mondoweiss that his body had been riddled with 21 bullets.

Palestinians have branded the killing an “assassination” of a budding political leader.

Text: Sheren Khalel
Video: Mondoweiss Editors