Thousands of Palestinians mourned the death of Gazan university professor Fadi Al-Batsh, who was killed in Kuala Lumpur last week.

Al-Batsh was laid to rest on Thursday, shortly after his body arrived in Gaza through the Egyptian Rafah Border Crossing.

Egypt had made an exception and opened the Rafah Border to allow Al-Batsh's body into Gaza, despite Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman asking Egypt to withhold the body, in order to put more pressure on Hamas.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniya thanked Egypt and Malaysia for allowing the body into Gaza, against Lieberman's wishes.

Haniya attended the funeral prayers, which were held at a mosque in Jabalia, the hometown of Al-Batsh.

"The hand that assassinated the scientist will be severed," Haniya said, while other mourners around him chanted “God is greatest.”

Al-Batsh was killed while making his way to dawn prayers at a mosque in the Malaysian capital.

Hamas claimed the academic as one of their own, while the deceased's family accused the Mossad of killing their son.

Malaysian police released on Wednesday a picture of the man they suspect is the killer.