A sea of mourners at the funeral of Jordanian soldier who avenged Gaza: How Jordan Retrieved His Body
Ma’an (Quds News Network)- Thousands of Jordanians gathered today to mourn and bid farewell to Maher Al-Jazi Al-Huwaiteyat, the Jordanian soldier who killed three Israeli guards at Al-Karameh Bridge crossing (known as King Hussein Bridge in Jordan) last week, avenging Gaza.
The funeral procession, which took place in the southern town of Al-Husseiniya in Ma’an Governorate, saw large crowds performing funeral prayers and carrying Al-Jazi’s body draped in the Jordanian flag. His body was laid to rest in his hometown after being held by Israeli authorities for eight days.
According to Jordanian state news agency Petra, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Israel handed over the body of Al-Jazi earlier today, following pressure from Jordan. His family had been eagerly awaiting the return of his remains for a dignified burial.
Maher Al-Jazi, a retired Jordanian soldier working as a truck driver, opened fire on Israeli border guards at Al-Karameh Bridge crossing on September 8, killing three before being shot dead by Israeli forces. His actions came amid growing anger in Jordan over the ongoing Israeli assaults on Gaza.
Former Jordanian Interior Minister Samir Habashneh told Al Jazeera that retrieving the body of Al-Jazi was a direct response to the demands of the Jordanian people.
Protests erupted across Amman and other cities in Jordan over the past week, with demonstrators calling for the swift return of Al-Jazi’s body. Pressure mounted on Israeli authorities, leading to the eventual handover of his remains, which was seen as crucial for maintaining security relations between the two countries.
Reports from Israeli media, including The Jerusalem Post, indicated that the decision to return the body came after intense pressure from Jordan, which had engaged in talks through diplomatic channels, including the involvement of US officials.
Despite Israeli attempts to impose conditions on the burial, such as preventing public displays of mourning, Jordan refused these terms. The massive turnout for the funeral in Al-Husseiniya demonstrated the depth of public sentiment against Israel’s treatment of Palestinian and Jordanian martyrs.
Al-Jazi’s family revealed that he was deeply affected by the devastation and bloodshed in Gaza, which drove him to take matters into his own hands. The attack at Al-Karameh Bridge is viewed by many as a response to the continuous Israeli aggression against Palestinians.
Although Al-Jazi’s body has now been returned, the case is far from closed. Two Jordanian men remain in Israeli custody, with the Jordanian government continuing to negotiate for their release.
