Israeli law enforcement officials charged at Palestinian mourners carrying the coffin of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on Friday, earlier than 1000’s led her casket via Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis in an outpouring of grief and anger over her killing.
Packed round Abu Akleh’s coffin, dozens of Palestinians, some waving Palestinian flags and chanting “with our soul and blood we’ll redeem you Shireen,” started strolling towards the gates of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Israeli law enforcement officials, in an obvious bid to cease them continuing by foot slightly than taking the coffin by automotive, burst via the courtyard gates and charged on the crowd, some beating pallbearers with batons and kicking them.
At one level the group carrying her coffin backed towards a wall and nearly dropped the casket, recovering it simply earlier than one finish hit the bottom as stun grenades detonated.
Including to tensions
The violent scenes, which lasted solely minutes, added to Palestinian outrage over Abu Akleh’s killing, which has threatened to gasoline violence that has surged since March.
Abu Akleh, who had coated Palestinian affairs and the Center East for greater than twenty years, was shot whereas reporting on an Israeli raid within the occupied West Financial institution on Wednesday.
Palestinian authorities have described Abu Akleh’s killing as an assassination by Israeli forces. Israel’s authorities initially instructed Palestinian hearth might need been responsible, however officers have additionally mentioned they might not rule out it was Israeli gunfire that killed her.
Israeli police mentioned a gaggle of Palestinians exterior the hospital, whom they described as rioters, had begun throwing stones at officers. “The policemen had been pressured to behave,” they added.
The White Home discovered the pictures disturbing, press secretary Jen Psaki instructed reporters, and U.S. officers will stay in shut contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities within the aftermath of Akleh’s funeral.
Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, said via Twitter that “we had been deeply troubled by the pictures of Israeli police intruding into the funeral procession,” including that “each household deserves to put their family members to relaxation in a dignified and unimpeded method.”
We had been deeply troubled by the pictures of Israeli police intruding into the funeral procession of Palestinian American Shireen Abu Akleh. Each household deserves to put their family members to relaxation in a dignified and unimpeded method.
Egypt, Qatar and Al Jazeera condemned the police’s conduct. Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq mentioned the scenes had been “very stunning.” The EU mentioned it was appalled.
A couple of minutes after police intervened, Abu Akleh’s coffin was positioned in a automobile that headed towards the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin in Jerusalem’s walled Outdated Metropolis, the place the funeral ceremony proceeded peacefully.
Crowds of Palestinians lined the slender alleyways of the Outdated Metropolis because the coffin was carried to the Mount Zion Cemetery close by.
Her grave was coated in wreaths and the Palestinian flag draped over the grave cross as mourners surrounded it solemnly, paying tribute to Abu Akleh.
“We’re right here as a result of we’re screaming for justice. Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh and justice for Palestine,” mentioned one mourner, who didn’t need to be recognized by title.
No conclusion from preliminary Israeli probe
The Israeli navy mentioned on Friday that its preliminary investigation “concluded that it’s not doable to unequivocally decide the supply of the gunfire which hit and killed Ms. Abu Akleh.”
She might have been killed by pictures fired by Palestinian militants taking pictures at Israeli navy autos or been hit inadvertently by an Israeli soldier returning hearth, it mentioned.
The Palestinian Lawyer Normal’s workplace issued an announcement on Friday wherein it mentioned preliminary investigations have discovered that the only supply of gunfire within the space the place Abu Akleh was damage was Israeli.
Israeli forces on Friday resumed raids on the outskirts of Jenin, the place Abu Akleh was killed, and the Palestinian Well being Ministry mentioned 13 Palestinians had been wounded.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, in the meantime, claimed accountability for the demise of an Israeli police officer in an change of gunfire in Jenin.
A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, mentioned occasions in Jerusalem and Jenin may push the edges into severe escalation.
Abu Akleh’s demise has drawn widespread condemnation. Video footage from the moments after she was shot confirmed Abu Akleh, 51, carrying a blue vest marked “Press.”
Not less than two of her colleagues who had been along with her mentioned that that they had come beneath Israeli sniper hearth and that they weren’t near militants.
Israel, which has voiced remorse at Abu Akleh’s demise, has proposed a joint investigation with the Palestinians, asking them to supply the bullet for examination.
The Palestinians have rejected the Israeli request and have known as for a global investigation.
