VIDEO Dozens of Druze stormed a hospital in Israel, carrying away the body of a sheikh who died of corona

Dozens of members of Israel's Druze minority broke into a hospital in the north of Israel and took away the body of a sheikh who died of the coronavirus.

Later on Saturday, the Sheikh was buried in the presence of a large number of people, contrary to the safety guidelines during the pandemic.

Druze entered the hospital late Friday in the northern city of Safed, and TV stations showed footage showing dozens of the late sheikh's supporters inside the building.

The Sheikh was buried in the town of Majdal Shams on the annexed Golan Heights, where restrictions are in place due to the large number of cases of infection with the new virus.

Hijade Druze attended the funeral despite the ban on large gatherings.

Late Saturday, Sheikh Muwafak Tarif, a Druze spiritual leader, said the family of the deceased and Druze leadership were not consulted before the body was taken from the hospital.

He appealed to the Druze to adhere to the restrictive measures, Israeli radio reported.

Israeli police are investigating the incident, according to a report broadcast in Arabic.

Israel has begun easing restrictions across the country as it managed to reduce its infection rate, which was one of the highest in the world in September.