Israel Returns Body of Allegedly Subdued Palestinian Attacker Shot by Soldier

Hundreds of Palestinians turned out on Saturday for the funeral of Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif, the assailant who was apparently already subdued when shot by an Israeli army medic in March. The incident, captured on video, became the center of international outcry and criticism of Israel, while also sending social and political shockwaves throughout Israeli society. The soldier who killed al-Sharif is currently on trial for manslaughter. Israeli policies aimed at preventing riots and demonstrations that incite to violence caused the delay in returning the body, including limits on the number of mourners allowed to attend the funeral. Al-Sharif and an accomplice attacked soldiers at a check point near the West Bank city of Hebron, stabbing and moderately wounding one soldier. Ramzi Aziz al-Qasrawi was immediately shot and killed while al-Sharif apparently survived a gunshot wound until soldier Elor Azarya fired an additional shot, killing him. The incident triggered fierce international condemnation as well as heated debate regarding military rules of engagement throughout both the military infrastructure and civilian society. In Israel, all men and women are conscripted for army service at the age of eighteen.