JERUSALEM, September 6, 2016 (WAFA) – Israel released on Tuesday the corpse of a Palestinian after holding it in a morgue for seven months, according to local sources.

The Israeli Secret Service, the Shabac, agreed to release the corpse of Muhammad Abu Khalaf, 20, about seven months after being shot dead after allegedly stabbing and wounding two police officers outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem on February 19.

Israeli police and intelligence officers reportedly cordoned the cemetery, blocking roads leading to it and preventing journalists and Palestinians from attending the funeral and burial.

Police imposed strict conditions for the burial, demanding that only 25 people attend the funeral, which should be held in the pre-dawn hours. The family also paid a bail of over $5,000 that will be forfeited if  the family does not abide by the conditions.

Muhammad’s mother, Rula Abu Khalaf, said she had been awaiting the burial of her son for about seven months.

“I bid him farewell after waiting for his burial for a long time,” she said.

She said Israeli police was supposed to release her son’s body the day before but they delayed it until the family agreed to bury it away from the graves of other Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces.

“I buried my son in compliance with humiliating conditions,” said Abu Khalaf, explaining that the corpse was thawed after being held in the morgue refrigerator for seven months before it was turned over to the family.

Police have been holding bodies of Palestinians killed in alleged attacks against Israelis that started in October of last year in morgues refusing to turn them over to their families for burial as a punishment to the families and community. Only recently did Israel begin releasing bodies under stringent conditions.

In addition, Israel had demolished family homes of several Palestinians involved in the attacks.

K.F./M.A.