Surrounding Abu Akleh’s coffin, dozens of Palestinians, some waving Palestinian flags and chanting “By our soul and blood we will redeem you Shireen”, began marching towards the gates of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Israeli police officers, in an apparent attempt to stop them from moving on foot rather than driving the coffin, burst through the courtyard doors and charged at the crowd, some beating the coffin bearers with batons. and kicking them.
At one point, the group carrying the coffin backed into a wall and nearly dropped the coffin, retrieving it just before one end hit the ground as stun grenades exploded.
The violent scenes, which lasted only a few minutes, added to Palestinian outrage over the killing of Abu Akleh, which threatened to fuel violence that has escalated since March.
Abu Akleh, who had covered Palestinian affairs and the Middle East for more than two decades, was shot dead while reporting on an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday.
The Palestinian authorities have described Abu Akleh’s murder as an assassination by Israeli forces. The Israeli government initially suggested that Palestinian fire may have been involved, but officials also said they could not rule out that it was Israeli fire that killed her.
Israeli police said a group of Palestinians outside the hospital, whom they described as rioters, began throwing stones at the officers. “The police were forced to act,” they added.
The White House found the footage disturbing, Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, and US officials will remain in close contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities following Akleh’s funeral.
Egypt, Qatar and Al Jazeera condemned the police conduct. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the scenes were “very shocking” and the EU said it was appalled.
Minutes after the police intervention, Abu Akleh’s coffin was placed in a vehicle which headed to the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin in Jerusalem’s walled Old City, where the funeral ceremony took place. took place peacefully.
Crowds of Palestinians gathered in the narrow streets of the Old City as the coffin was carried to the nearby Mount Zion cemetery.
His grave was covered with wreaths and the Palestinian flag draped over the burial cross as mourners solemnly surrounded him, paying their respects to Abu Akleh.
“We are here because we are crying out for justice. Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh and justice for Palestine,” said a mourner, who did not want to be identified by name.
INVESTIGATIONS AND RAIDS
The Israeli army said on Friday that its initial investigation “concluded that it is not possible to unequivocally determine the source of the shots which hit and killed Ms. Abu Akleh”.
She may have been killed by shots fired by Palestinian militants at Israeli military vehicles or inadvertently hit by a returning Israeli soldier, the army said.
The Palestinian attorney general’s office released a statement on Friday saying initial investigations revealed that the only source of fire in the area where Ms Abu Akleh was injured was Israeli.
Israeli forces resumed raids on the outskirts of Jenin on Friday, where Abu Akleh was killed, and the Palestinian health minister said 13 Palestinians were injured.
The Palestinian group of Islamic Jihad meanwhile claimed responsibility for the death of an Israeli police officer during an exchange of gunfire in Jnin.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said events in Jerusalem and Jinin could push the sides to serious escalation.
Abu Akleh’s death has drawn widespread condemnation. Video footage moments after she was shot shows Abu Akleh, 51, wearing a blue vest marked “Press”.
At least two of her colleagues who were with her said they had come under Israeli sniper fire and were not close to the militants.
Israel, which expressed regret for Abu Akleh’s death, offered a joint investigation with the Palestinians, asking them to provide the bullet for examination.
The Palestinians rejected the Israeli request and called for an international investigation.