Jerusalem, May 13 (Reuters)-Thousands of people are saddened and angry at her murder after Israeli police officers were charged with a Palestinian mourner with a coffin by Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on Friday. Overflowing through the old city of Jerusalem.
Packed around Abu Acre’s casket, dozens of Palestinians waved the Palestinian flag and headed to the gates of St. Joseph’s Hospital, chanting, “We will redeem you for Sirine with our soul and blood.” I started walking.
Israeli police officers broke through the courtyard gates and rushed into the crowd, beating and kicking the casket attendants with a baton, in an attempt to stop walking, rather than driving the casket.
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At some point, the group holding the casket turned their backs on the wall and was about to drop the casket, regaining the casket just before one end touched the ground when the stun grenade exploded.
The violent scene, which lasted only a few minutes, exacerbated the Palestinian anger at the killing of Abu Acre, which could fuel the violence that has skyrocketed since March.
Abu Acre, who has covered the Palestinian issue and the Middle East for over 20 years, was shot while reporting on an Israeli attack on the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. read more
Palestinian officials describe the killing of Abu Acre as an assassination by Israeli troops. The Israeli government initially suggested that it could have been caused by a Palestinian fire, but officials also said it could not be ruled out that it was an Israeli shootout that killed her.
Israeli police said a group of Palestinians outside the hospital described them as mobs and began throwing stones at police officers.
“The police were forced to act,” they added.
The White House felt the images were in the way, spokesman Jen Psaki told reporters, and US officials would continue to keep in close contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities in the aftermath of Acre’s funeral.
“All families deserve to be able to rest their loved ones in a dignified and unhindered way,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Egypt, Qatar and Al Jazeera have accused police of their actions. UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haku said the scene was “very shocking” and the EU was horrified.
Minutes after police intervention, Abu Acre’s casket was placed in a vehicle heading to the Cathedral of Our Lady’s Conception in the old city, surrounded by the walls of Jerusalem, where the funeral proceeded peacefully.
When the casket was taken to the nearby Mount Zion Cemetery, a crowd of Palestinians lined up in a narrow alley in the old town.
Her tomb was covered with a wreath, and the Palestinian flag covered the tomb’s cross as the mourner solemnly surrounded it in honor of Abu Acre.
“We are here because we are screaming for justice. The justice of Sirine Abu Acre and the justice of Palestine,” said one mourner who did not want to be identified by name.
Survey and RAID
The Israeli army said on Friday that its first investigation “concluded that it was impossible to pinpoint the cause of the shooting that attacked and killed Mr. Abu Acre.”
She said Palestinian militants could have been killed by shots fired by shooting Israeli military vehicles, or inadvertently struck by Israeli soldiers firing.
The Palestinian Attorney General’s office issued a statement on Friday, stating that initial investigations revealed that Israelis were the only cause of the shootings in the area where Abu Acre was injured.
In a statement agreed in Friday’s consensus, the 15 UN Security Council strongly condemned the killings and called for an “immediate, thorough, transparent, fair and impartial investigation.”
Israeli troops resumed raids on the outskirts of Genin, where Abu Acre was killed, and the Palestinian Ministry of Health said 13 Palestinians were injured.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad group in Palestine claimed responsibility for the death of Israeli police officers in the exchange of gun battles in Genin.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeine said the events in Jerusalem and Genin could push both sides into a serious escalation.
The death of Abu Acre caused widespread criticism. Immediately after she was shot, the video footage showed Abu Acre, 51, wearing a blue vest labeled “Press.”
At least two of her colleagues who were with her said they were under attack by Israeli snipers and were not near the militants.
Israel, regretful of Abu Acre’s death, proposed a joint investigation with Palestinians and asked them to provide bullets for the investigation.
Palestinians rejected Israel’s request and demanded an international investigation.
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Report by Maayan Lubell and Rami Amichay in Jerusalem. Ali Sawafta from Ramallah and Nidal al Mugravi from Gaza. Andrew Mills of Doha, Michelle Nichols of New York, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason of Washington, Costas Pitas of Los Angeles. Edited by Andrew Heavens, Jon Boyle, Alistair Bell, Himani Sarkar
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