Israeli police push and hit mourners carrying slain Al Jazeera journalist’s casket
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 by way of Jerusalem’s Previous 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 are going to 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 quite than taking the coffin by automobile, burst by way of 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 gas violence that has surged since March.
Abu Akleh, who had coated Palestinian affairs and the Center East for greater than 20 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 urged Palestinian hearth may need been guilty, however officers have additionally mentioned they may not rule out it was Israeli gunfire that killed her.
Israeli police mentioned a bunch of Palestinians exterior the hospital, whom they described as rioters, had begun throwing stones at officers. “The policemen have been compelled to behave,” they added.
The White Home discovered the pictures disturbing, press secretary Jen Psaki informed reporters, and U.S. officers will stay in shut contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities within the aftermath of Akleh’s funeral.
“Each household deserves to put their family members to relaxation in a dignified and unimpeded method,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned.
We have 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.
—@SecBlinken
Egypt, Qatar and Al Jazeera condemned the police’s conduct. Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq mentioned the scenes have been “very surprising.” 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 Previous Metropolis, the place the funeral ceremony proceeded peacefully.
Crowds of Palestinians lined the slender alleyways of the Previous 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 wish to be recognized by identify.
No conclusion from preliminary Israeli probe
The Israeli army 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 photographs fired by Palestinian militants capturing at Israeli army autos or been hit inadvertently by an Israeli soldier returning hearth, it mentioned.
The Palestinian Legal professional Common’s workplace issued a press release on Friday by which it mentioned preliminary investigations have discovered that the only real supply of gunfire within the space the place Abu Akleh was damage was Israeli.
In a press release, agreed by consensus on Friday, the 15-member UN Safety Council strongly condemned the killing and referred to as for an “speedy, thorough, clear, and honest and neutral investigation.”
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 duty for the loss of life of an Israeli police officer in an alternate of gunfire in Jenin.
A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, mentioned occasions in Jerusalem and Jenin may push the perimeters into severe escalation.
Abu Akleh’s loss of life has drawn widespread condemnation. Video footage from the moments after she was shot confirmed Abu Akleh, 51, sporting a blue vest marked “Press.”
At the least two of her colleagues who have been along with her mentioned that that they had come underneath Israeli sniper hearth and that they weren’t near militants.
Israel, which has voiced remorse at Abu Akleh’s loss of life, has proposed a joint investigation with the Palestinians, asking them to offer the bullet for examination.
The Palestinians have rejected the Israeli request and have referred to as for a world investigation.
