Body of Druze Boy Held in Jenin Returned to Family in Israel

YERUSHALAYIM

By Hamodia Staff

The scene of the car crash near Jenin, Tuesday.

YERUSHALAYIM — The body of Tiran Fero, a young Israeli from the Druze community, was returned to Israel early Thursday with help from the Palestinian Authority and foreign diplomats.

Fero, 18, and another Israeli Druze crossed into the northern Shomron city of Jenin from Israel before being injured in a car accident.

While his companion is receiving treatment in Israel after his transfer from a Jenin hospital, Fero’s body was taken by terrorists, who allegedly believed he was an IDF soldier.

The abduction of the body raised an outcry in the Druze community, with the IDF saying it expected the Palestinians who took the body to return it as a “humanitarian step.”

Outgoing Defense Minister Benny Gantz thanked the Palestinian Authority for facilitating the body’s return. “I would like to express my appreciation to the Palestinian Authority for its action to return the late Tiran Fero to his family. This is a basic humanitarian step after a vile and inhuman act. I would like to thank the security forces and all the bodies, leaders and representatives who acted with determination to return him. My sincere condolences to his family who showed greatness and leadership in these difficult moments,” Gantz said.

Fero was from the Israeli Druze town of Daliyat al-Karmel. The mayor of the town told Israeli media that the governments of Qatar, Jordan and Egypt were involved in the negotiations to return the body.

Later on Thursday, Walla news reported that recovery of the body was effected by a large-scale international diplomatic effort.

U.N. Middle East Envoy Tor Wennesland made an appeal to the Islamic Jihad terror group leaders in Damascus, according to Israeli and Western sources cited.

The United States Security Coordinator Gen. Michael Penzel also worked with the Palestinian Authority, the report said, adding that PA security services were ordered to assist in the effort to bring back the body.

The report also said that Israel had issued a warning behind the scenes that if the body was not returned, the IDF would launch a large-scale operation.

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