Jerusalem car attack driver buried after Israeli authorities impose restrictions

The funeral was held on Sunday night of Abdel Rahman Shaludi, the man Israel accuses of launching a “terrorist” attack in Jerusalem last week.

Shaludi’s car rammed pedestrians at the Ammunition Hill light rail stop in northern East Jerusalem last Wednesday.

A three-month old baby, Chaya Zissel Braun, was killed almost immediately, while a 22-year old Ecuadorian woman, Karen Mosquera, died on Sunday of her wounds.

Shaludi was shot by Israeli security personnel as he tried to flee the scene of the crash, which reportedly occurred after he drove along the pavement for some 14 metres.

Israeli authorities allege that Shaludi had links to Hamas, and launched a pre-meditated "terrorist" attack - his family say he could have lost control of the vehicle.

The 21-year old’s funeral was finally held on Sunday night, after restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on the ceremony sparked criticism and fierce clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops in Shaludi’s East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan.

Israeli police initially said that a maximum of 80 people would be allowed to attend the ceremony, over fears that the event could spark clashes with security forces.

However, on Saturday authorities stipulated that a maximum of 20 people, whose names had been submitted to authorities for security checks, could see Shaludi buried, over fears that the ceremony could spark violent clashes with security forces.

The young man’s relatives responded by refusing to accept Shaludi’s body back from the police until the restrictions were lifted – family spokesperson Abad Shaludi told Ynet News that “if [Israeli authorities] keep the conditions in place, then it is better to leave the body with them.”

Shaludi was buried on Sunday night, after his family agreed to an increased quota of 70 mourners – a Silwan activist, Jawad Siyyam, alleged that Israeli authorities had threatened to hold their own burial for the man if his family refused to accept the body.

Prior to the event, Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said that “police security measures” were in place in Jerusalem to “prevent and respond to any incidents.

“The terrorist who killed two people is to be buried in the late evening."

Despite the security measures, the funeral sparked fierce clashes, with Israeli security forces hitting back at Palestinian firework-throwers using stun grenades and tear gas.

The Israeli army announced on Monday that it had arrested eight Palestinians from Jerusalem overnight on Sunday, while six others were detained in various areas of the West Bank.

Shaludi’s funeral and the subsequent clashes came at the end of a day of intense fighting between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.