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Might 13 (UPI) — Law enforcement officials in Israel had been filmed beating pallbearers carrying the coffin for slain Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh throughout her funeral Friday, inflicting them to just about drop her physique.
The pallbearers may be seen struggling to maintain the coffin raised because the Israeli law enforcement officials swing at them with batons and kick them, video footage shows.
Abu Akleh, a reporter for Al Jazeera, was shot lifeless Wednesday whereas masking a raid by Israeli Protection Forces on a Palestinian refugee camp within the northern occupied West Financial institution. She had reportedly been sporting a jacket that recognized her as a member of the press when she died.
Her funeral procession had marched from Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate however had been met by police on the St. Joseph hospital advanced on their approach to Mount Zion Protestant Cemetery, CNN reported. Afterward, Abu Akleh — a Christian — was buried subsequent to her guardian’s grave.
Israeli Police stated in a statement after the conflict that the funeral procession had been coordinated by police with the Abu Akleh household beforehand and that “300 rioters” prevented the household from loading her physique right into a hearse to be taken to the cemetery “as had been deliberate.”
“As a substitute, the mob threatened the driving force of the hearse after which proceeded to hold the coffin on an unplanned procession to the cemetery by foot,” Israeli Police alleged.
“This went in opposition to the desires of the Abu Akleh household and the safety coordination’s that had been deliberate to safeguard the massive variety of mourners.”
Israeli Police stated that officers instructed mourners to return the coffin to the hearse however that “the mob refused” and instigated the conflict by throwing “glass bottles and different objects.”
Officers additionally released a video that seems to point out one of many mourners throwing a bottle at police as they moved in to disperse them.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused Palestinians of capturing “in an inaccurate, indiscriminate and uncontrolled method” in the course of the raid that led to her dying.
“Our forces from the [Israel Defense Forces] returned fireplace as precisely, rigorously and responsibly as potential,” Bennett stated. “Sadly, Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed within the trade.”
Nevertheless, Ali al-Samoudi, one other Al Jazeera journalist who was additionally shot and injured within the again, has disputed Israel’s account and stated the crew was “instantly shot” by Israeli forces when no Palestinian army resistance was on the scene.