The Palestinian state-run news agency WAFA reported that Abbas spoke with the father of the woman A`aesha al-Rabi, 45 years old, who died of sustained wounds in the head from a stone thrown by Israeli settlers.
According to the report, Abbas said to the family that "this crime was committed by settlers who are protected by the state of occupation and it should not go without punishment."
Abbas stressed that "the Palestinian people will keep steadfastness over their land whatever the sacrifices are," adding "such crimes will never weaken our people to carry on towards freedom and independence."
Earlier on Saturday, thousands of outraged Palestinians buried the body of Rabi in the village of Bedia in northern West Bank. Her body was wrapped with a Palestinian flag and carried on the mourners` shoulders before her burial.
Rabi was hit with a deadly stone in her head as she was traveling with her husband near Israeli military checkpoint Za`atara close to Nablus. Her husband, who was driving the car and said he had to pull over after the attack, was slightly injured.
She was sent to hospital but was dead by the time she got there, according to medics.
Her body was laid to rest in her hometown Bedia near Salfit amidst grief, after an autopsy was carried out to confirm the cause of her death following the attack by settlers.
Rabi was a mother of eight, one of whom is preparing to get married in two weeks.
The Israeli army said in a statement on Saturday that it is investigating the incident.
Palestinians have repeatedly warned against settler attacks on their farms, homes, properties and people. Such incidents have seen a particular rise along with the olive harvest season.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian official on Saturday called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories.
Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, condemned the series of war crimes committed by Israel and its extremist settlers against the defenseless Palestinian people in a clear and deliberate violation of all international and humanitarian laws.
Ashrawi said in a press statement that "the intensification of the field executions and the deliberate killing and continued terrorism of organized extremist settlers reflect a clear disregard by the Israeli government of extremism to the world and its institutions and international bodies."
(t.C003) 14-10-2018 07:14:53
Reporter: Antara/Xinhua-OANA
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
