The funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, shot dead in the head while covering an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank, began in Jerusalem with clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police.
The body of the veteran Al Jazeera journalist, 51, left around 2:00 p.m. local time in a coffin from Saint Joseph Hospital, in occupied East Jerusalem, to begin the funeral procession to the city’s Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Vieja and then to the cemetery, with the presence of thousands of people.
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“The Israeli army is asking people if they are Christian or Muslim. If you’re Muslim you weren’t allowed in.” – @ajimran
Israeli occupation forces are attacking Palestinians during the funeral of killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. pic.twitter.com/Xq3VkeOCqn
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 13, 2022
Israeli police have charged attendees who wanted to carry the coffin, draped in the Palestinian flag, on their shoulders, a sign that cannot be displayed in Israel, which has controlled the eastern part of Jerusalem since it was annexed in 1980. Al Jazeera chain He has denounced that the authorities have not allowed people to walk with the coffin, show Palestinian flags, or sing Palestinian songs.
Israeli occupation forces tore down a Palestinian flag hoisted by mourners carrying the coffin of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
🔴 LIVE updates: pic.twitter.com/lDO7RO7jZi
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 13, 2022
The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported that it has treated dozens of wounded around the hospital.
Shireen’s body has arrived shortly after in a van at the Yafa gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, where it has been transferred to the church where the mass takes place, with hundreds of attendees and a strong security device throughout the city .
There, the police have also charged several attendees who were displaying Palestinian flags.
Akleh, 51, died on Wednesday from a bullet to the head while covering a raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Al Jazeera, the Palestinian National Authority and the Arab League all blame Israel for the veteran journalist’s death.
“Not even a funeral in our country in Palestine is peaceful. Sadly, there have been many Israeli checkpoints on the way to the hospital prohibiting cars from getting there,” said the journalist’s niece, Lina Abu Akleh.
Responsibility for death
Israel and the PNA are carrying out two parallel investigations to determine who fired the bullet that killed her, since during the incidents there were also Palestinian militiamen shooting, whom the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Benet, accused of the death at first, although the Government later qualified that version.
The Israeli authorities initially released a video of Palestinian fighters shooting, showing it as possible evidence that they were responsible. Nevertheless, as published by the NGO B’Tselemthe location of the militiamen in the video makes it impossible that they were responsible for the journalist’s death.
