Aiia Maarsawe, the international student murdered in Melbourne last week, has been laid to rest in her hometown in Israel after being farewelled in a tearful ceremony by hundreds of mourners.

Sharef Maarsawe, the cousin of Aiia, told AAP her family wanted to emphasise her energy and happiness for life, and send a message of peace and love.

“Even though, she’s not with us, her voice must continue to live on,” Sharef Maarsawe said.

“Aiia was a person full of life, energy, [and] optimism,” he said.

“She loved to travel (and) meet new people from different cultures and religions.”

The body of 21-year-old Aiia, was repatriated back to Israel on Tuesday, one week after her violent death in Melbourne.

She was walking home on January 15 after visiting a local comedy club when she was attacked after getting off a tram near La Trobe University in Bundoora. Her body found the next morning.

Codey Herrmann, 20, has been charged with her rape and murder.

Aiia was full of ‘life, energy, and optimism’. Photo: Instagram

Ms Maarsawe’s body was transported to the family home in the Palestinian city of Baqa al Gharbiyye one hour north of Tel Aviv on Wednesday to allow family and community members to pay their last respects.

Her coffin was then taken to the local mosque, followed by hundreds of men on foot for prayers.

Cars displaying black flags of mourning followed the procession, jamming the streets.

With the mosque full, hundreds more men lined the nearby car park and surrounding streets as prayers were performed.

Ms Maarsawe’s coffin, draped in silver cloth, was then carried out of the mosque by close family members.

All of the men in attendance solemnly walked to the adjoining cemetery, lowering the coffin carefully in the ground just after 11am local time.

Male family members cried and prayed as dirt was shovelled into the grave.

Sharef Maarsawe, said the process of getting Aiia home from Australia was a difficult one and she was thankful for all the support given to the family.

“A lot of things needed to be arranged, however everyone was very helpful and we as a family are very grateful for all those people who helped,” he said.

-AAP