Shireen Abu Aqla: Violence at Al Jazeera reporter's funeral

 

Israeli police have hit mourners at the funeral of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Aqla, whose killing in the occupied West Bank has caused a surge of anger.

Her coffin virtually fell as police, some exploitation batons, waded into a crowd of Palestinians gathered around it.

Police same they acted when being pelted with stones. Abu Aqla was shot dead in controversial circumstances on Wed, with Israel and Palestinians commerce blame. The killing has been wide condemned.

Footage showed a standoff between police and Palestinians gathered round the coffin within the hospital compound, before officers push the crowd back, with some beating and kicking mourners. Police same officers "were forced to use riot dissemination means".
There was a shrine of written tributes, a floral crucifix (Shireen was a Palestinian Christian) and touchingly a press flak jacket among the flowers. several were in tears. There was some intonation and Palestinian flags were being flown.

Suddenly the gates to the compound were closed and heavily armed Israeli border police, some on horseback, appeared on the opposite aspect of them. Given the circumstances it already felt resistance.

The coffin was brought out of the building carried by a group of pallbearers. whereas the set up was for the procession to the church to use the motor vehicle, the coffin was currently being carried towards the closed gates.

What happened next was extraordinary. i used to be behind the packed crowd thus i could not see the front purpose of contact, however the Israeli police suddenly pushed back the group, together with the coffin and its carriers.

They discharged stun grenades towards the mourners and therefore the press and were storming into the compound. From my vantage - not at the front of the group - I saw one or two of plastic bottles being thrown back, nothing additional. individuals ran to require cowl within the hospital. I saw a lady with a young baby in a very carrier sling overwrought, virtually being crushed within the panic.

The echo of stun grenades rang move into the hospital corridors and wards. I saw a minimum of one man wounded.

This gave the impression to prolong for around ten minutes, as we sought-after a secure route back towards the parking lot. when we have a tendency to came out, the coffin left within the motor vehicle through the gates. And currently videos have emerged showing what happened whereas individuals were dashing within - Israeli police beating and kicking the pallbearers, who were in retreat carrying Shireen Abu Aqla's coffin. At one stage it nearly slipped from their grasp, falling towards the bottom.
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The Palestinian Authority and Al Jazeera claim Abu Aqla was shot dead by Israeli forces, whereas Israel same it absolutely was not nevertheless doable to see what happened which she may are killed by Palestinian shot.

An Israeli military interim report on weekday same the fatal shot may have return from "massive fireplace from Palestinian gunmen", or probably from "a few bullets" discharged by a soldier "at a terrorist World Health Organization was firing at his vehicle".

She was given the rarity of a ceremonial at the compound of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on weekday, wherever her coffin was brought draped within the Palestinian flag. President Abbas paid tribute to her, describing her as a "martyr of the free word" who "sacrificed her life" to defend the Palestinian cause.

He same Israel was "fully accountable for her killing" which he would refer the case to the International judicature, that investigates potential war crimes.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali airman has suspect man Abbas of "throwing blame at Israel with none basis."Abu Aqla was within the Jenin camp too soon Wed to report on the Israeli raid. The Israeli military same the operation was to apprehend "terrorist suspects".

It same "tens of Palestinian gunmen discharged at and hurled explosive devices toward the soldiers. The soldiers responded with fireplace toward the gunmen and hits were identified".
Another Palestinian journalist, Al Jazeera producer Ali Samoudi, was shot and wounded throughout the violence.

The incident comes at a time of significantly high tension between Israel and therefore the Palestinians, when nearly 2 months of 1 of the deadliest periods of violence in years. Israel has distributed operations in Jenin within the wake of a wave of killings of Israeli Jews by Palestinians and Israeli Arabs in Israel and therefore the West Bank.

Four of the Palestinians World Health Organization distributed attacks in Israel came from the Jenin district.

An Israeli police commando meantime was killed on Fri throughout clashes with Palestinian gunmen close to Jenin, police same. The commando, who was 47, was shot dead throughout an operation to arrest a suspect, Israeli authorities same.