International condemnation of Israeli police clash with mourners of Palestinian journalists

The chaotic scene at the funeral of Ms. Shireen Abu Akleh on May 13 reuters

According to The Times of Israelmore than 10,000 people Palestine May 13 attended the procession that stretched throughout the city of Jerusalem at the funeral of the journalist America origin Palestine Shireen Abu Akleh of the news agency Al Jazeera.

Clashes at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in east Jerusalem broke out after people Palestine tried to carry Abu Akleh’s coffin outside and waved the Palestinian flag to start a procession.

The Washington Post Ms. Abu Akleh’s brother, Antoine, reportedly appealed to the crowd to calm down and asked them to put her sister’s body in a hearse.

Officers Israel rushed into the crowd, used force on mourners and fired stun grenades, causing Ms. Abu Akleh’s coffin to nearly fall to the ground.

According to the Jerusalem Red Crescent, 33 people were injured in the procession, of which six were hospitalized.

In a statement after the incident, Israeli police said they intervened because rioters had taken Ms Abu Akleh’s coffin out of the hospital against the wishes of the family and prevented it from being loaded onto the vehicle. mourning. Police also said people near the coffin threw stones and objects at the officers during the “riot” and arrested six people.

The chaotic scene at the funeral drew international condemnation.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the incident was “deeply disturbing”. The focus of attention should be on “the tribute to a journalist who died,” Ms. Psaki told reporters.

“We regret the intrusion that took place at a procession that should have been peaceful,” added Ms Psaki.

European Union also condemned the incident, saying the bloc was “appalled by the violence on the Saint Joseph’s Hospital grounds and the needless level of force by Israeli police during the funeral”.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres It is also “deeply concerned by confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians gathered at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and the behavior of some police officers present at the scene,” a spokesman said.

Al Jazeera news agency stated that the Israeli police’s actions “violated all international norms and rights.” Egypt and Qatar also condemned the Israeli police’s behaviour.

Reporter Shireen Abu Akleh of Al Jazeera Al Jazeera screenshot

Ms. Abu Akleh, a very famous journalist in the region, was killed while wearing a journalist’s shirt during a gun battle early on April 11 between the Israeli army and gunmen. Palestine in Jenin belongs to West Bank.

Reuters reports that Israel and Palestine have blamed each other for the death of Ms. Abu Akleh. The Israeli military said on May 13 that the results of their initial investigation “show that it is not possible to clearly determine the source of the shot that hit and killed Ms. Abu Akleh”.

Israel also said Ms. Abu Akleh may have been killed by Palestinian shots fired at the vehicles military or was accidentally hit by a bullet fired by an Israeli soldier.

The Palestinian Justice Minister’s office also released a statement on May 13, saying the initial investigation found that Israel was the sole party to fire in the area where Ms. Abu Akleh was killed.

Earlier, Al Jazeera news agency reported that Akleh was brutally murdered by Israeli forces.

United Nations Security Council on May 13 condemned the killing of journalist Abu Akleh and called for “an immediate, thorough, transparent and fair investigation”.

According to Reuters, Israel has expressed grief over the death of Ms. Abu Akleh and proposed a joint investigation with Palestine, and asked Palestine to provide the bullet for an autopsy. Palestine has rejected Israel’s request and called for an international investigation.