Family Protests for Return of Sami Jesus’ Body Held by Israeli Police After Shooting

Sami Jesus, a 28-year-old man from Lod, was fatally shot by an Israeli Border Police officer on July 1 after being suspected of planning a terror attack. Despite his death, his body remains held at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, sparking outrage from his family and the political party "Makom LeKulanu." The party announced a protest scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. near the Lod municipal stadium to demand the return of Jesus’ body for burial.

Initially, the police opposed the protest, labeling it as support for terrorism, but withdrew their objection following a petition to the Supreme Court filed by Makom LeKulanu. Alon Lee Green, the party chairman, emphasized their commitment to standing with Jesus’ family until the body is released and buried.

Jesus’ sister, Nadine Suweis, described her brother as a mentally ill individual who should have received psychiatric care rather than being treated as a terrorist. She criticized the ongoing treatment of her brother as a militant even after his death, which she said has caused immense emotional distress to their parents. Suweis highlighted that the family has been waiting for a month to bury him and that their legal petition to the Supreme Court challenges the police’s refusal to release the body.

The prosecution is expected to respond within 14 days to the petition regarding whether to release the body or transfer it to the military, which may hold it as leverage if Jesus is deemed a terrorist. The police investigation into the shooting is ongoing. On the day of the incident, police initially reported a terror attempt but later stated all possibilities were being examined. According to police, Jesus was seen holding a knife and running toward Border Police officers, who shot him in a gravel field about 500 meters from the scene. No one else was injured in the incident.