The Israeli military on Friday in a "misunderstanding" handed over the body of a Palestinian killed after attacking a soldier with an axe the previous day, an army spokeswoman said.

"The body of the Palestinian was handed over following a misunderstanding that will be investigated," she told AFP.

The policy on returning the bodies of Palestinians killed "is set according to government guidelines", the spokeswoman added.

Public radio reported that two weeks ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon not to return the bodies of Palestinians killed in the West Bank to prevent their funerals escalating into protests.

Thursday's axe attack, in which the soldier was lightly wounded, ended a three-week lull in such incidents.

It occurred near the Al-Arroub refugee camp between Hebron and Bethlehem on the West Bank.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the man killed as Ibrahim al-Gharooz Baradeah, 45.

A wave of violence that erupted in October has killed 201 Palestinians and 28 Israelis. Two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have also been killed.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say.

Others were shot dead by Israeli forces during protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air raids in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's refusal to return the bodies of attackers has added to Palestinian resentment.

Officials in the Jewish state are divided over the issue, with senior figures in the military believing it stokes tensions.

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan supports holding back Palestinian bodies from relatives, saying he wants to avoid funerals becoming political rallies.
Source: AFP