Palestinian resistance icon sets out for Turkey

Fawzi al-Juneidi, who became a symbol last month of Palestinian opposition to the recent U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, has left the Israeli-occupied West Bank for Turkey at the latter’s invitation.

Rashad al-Juneidi, the 16-year-old’s uncle, told Anadolu Agency by phone that his nephew had departed Ramallah on Monday morning en route to Turkey at the invitation of Istanbul’s municipal authorities.

He is currently in Jordan, from where he will set out for Turkey on Tuesday morning, his uncle said.

While in Turkey, Rashad said, his nephew was expected to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a number of Turkish officials.

Fawzi was arrested on Dec. 7 in the West Bank city of Hebron (Al-Khalil) after being dragged on the ground and blindfolded by heavily armed Israeli soldiers.

Following three weeks in Israeli detention, he was released on bail and returned to his family on Dec. 28.

Late last year, a photo of the blindfolded youth became a symbol of fierce Palestinian opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on Dec. 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital -- a move that sparked widespread condemnation from across the Arab and Muslim world.