Large Crowds Mourn Maher Al-Jazi, Jordanian Martyr
On Tuesday afternoon, thousands of Jordanians gathered to pay their final respects to Maher Al-Jazi, the Jordanian national who executed the King Hussein Bridge crossing operation, resulting in the deaths of three Israeli soldiers. Al-Jazi's funeral took place in his hometown of Husseiniya, Ma'an Governorate, where he was carried on shoulders wrapped in the Jordanian flag, signifying the nation’s respect for his actions.
The Jordanian News Agency (Petra) reported that Al-Jazi's family received his body from the Jordanian authorities after he had been detained in Israel for eight days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the body was handed over to his family for burial in Jordan. Sheikh Habis Al-Huwaitat, a cousin of Al-Jazi, emphasized the tribe's desire for a funeral that honored his sacrifice.
The decision to return Al-Jazi's body came amid significant pressure from the Jordanian public, who held mass demonstrations across the capital, Amman, and other cities demanding the return of the martyr's remains. According to the Israeli newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, this decision was also aimed at maintaining the quality of security relations between Jordan and Israel.
Al-Jazi, a retired soldier turned truck driver, was shot dead by Israeli security forces on September 8 after he opened fire on border security personnel while crossing the Allenby bridge. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a challenging day for the nation of Israel.
