One week after she was killed after getting off a tram near Melbourne's La Trobe University, 21-year-old Aya Maasarwe was buried in her hometown of Baqa al-Gharbiyye, an hour north of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
After arriving from Australia, her coffin was transported to the local mosque, where prayers were held for her.
Cars jammed the streets, many displaying black flags. A sign outside the mosque read "Violence is the language of filthy ones" in Arabic.
After prayers, Maasarwe's coffin was carried out by close family members draped in white cloth and lowered into the ground just after 11am local time.
Aya's father Saeed Maasarwe, who boarded a flight home from Melbourne on Tuesday, complemented Australia and residents of Melbourne for their compassion following the murder.
Saeed Maasarwe at his daughter's funeral. Source: SBS
"Australia and Melbourne are wonderful, people everywhere can learn many things about humanity from the people in Australia. Really, I don’t have words to appreciate the people enough in Australia," he told SBS Arabic24.
"I hope this would be the last incident like this, and that people...any woman, anywhere in the world can go anywhere, and come back safe to her home and family."
Aya Maasarwe funeral. Source: SBS
Local man Haitham Masry said Aya was a "sister for all" of the townspeople.
"She is a sister for all of Baqa al-Gharbiyye. It's very sad, she went abroad to get an education to seek a better future, and this happened to her," he said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by a neighbour of the family Rawda Masarwae, who said Aya was "very dear" to the people of the town.
Aya Maasarwe. Source: Supplied
A professor from the town, Ryad Aghbarya, called on the Australian government and Melbourne Council to continue to commemorate Aya.
"I suggest that councils of Baqa and Melbourne come together and I suggest that Melbourne University should make special scholarship in Aya’s name for female students from Baqa al-Gharbiyye," he said.
Fellow townsperson Ali Mowasy said he was still in shock by the murder.
Men carry the casket through the town. Source: SBS
"The town is not used at all to have one of her daughters killed especially with such gruesome way," he said.
"Aya was killed while seeking her study, her future, her dreams, her ambitions. Away from home, and this for us was very sad and shocking."
As she made her final journey home, a small vigil was held near where she was murdered, with plans to plant a memorial tree and unveil a plaque at the site.
Codey Herrmann, 20, has been charged with Ms Maasarwe's rape and murder.
-With AAP.
