RAMALLAH, December 24, 2016 (WAFA) – Hundreds of Palestinians Saturday attended the funeral processions of six Palestinians whose bodies were released by Israel a day before in Hebron and Nablus.

Mourners attended the funeral procession of five Palestinians whose bodies were returned on Friday after being held for several months following a decision by Israel to hand over the bodies of Palestinians killed for purportedly committing attacks.

The five bodies returned to the southern West Bank district of Hebron were identified as Muhammad and Ameer al-Rajabi from Hebron city, killed on September 19; Khaled Ikhlayyil from Beit Ummar held since October 30; Issa Tarayra from Bani Naim held since September 20; and Mustafa Baradiya from the al-Arroub refugee camp whose body was held since July 18.

The funeral procession set off from Ahli hospital in Hebron before burying each of the five in his hometown.

Clashes erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinians following the procession of Ikhlayyil and Baradiya in Beit Ummar and al-Arroub camp. Scores of Palestinians reportedly suffocated from excessive tear gas inhalation.

Meanwhile, mourners attended the funeral procession of Jihad Khalil, 48, whose body was held since November 22, in Beit Wazan village, west of Nablus.

Khalil was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at the Qalandiya military checkpoint, south of Ramallah on November 22.

This came as three other bodies were handed over to their families and buried earlier.

They were identified as Muhammad Turkman, 25, from the Jenin district town of Qabatiya whose body was held since October 31; Muhammad Harb, 17, from Qalqilya whose body was held since December 8; and Wael Abu Saleh from Tulkarem whose body was held since June 20.

K.F./M.K.