Palestinians: Hamas militant’s body to be returned to Gaza

GAZA, Palestinian Territory – The Palestinian envoy in Malaysia says the body of a Hamas militant killed last week in Kuala Lumpur will be repatriated to the Gaza Strip for burial.

Anwar al-Agha said Tuesday that Egypt agreed to allow the body to be returned through its border with Gaza.

Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman had appealed to Egypt to refuse the Palestinian request. The body is expected to arrive in Gaza on Thursday.

Fadi al-Batsh, an electrical engineering lecturer at a Malaysian university, was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle as he was on his way to a mosque early Saturday.

Hamas, a militant group sworn to Israel’s destruction, described al-Batch as a “commander” in its military wing and accused Israel of assassinating him.

Israel has not commented.