Two days after Israeli forces shot and killed Al-Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, they beat mourners carrying the slain journalist’s coffin.
The Israeli police, in full riot gear, confronted the funeral procession carrying Abu Akleh’s body outside the St Louis French Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Several videos show the Israeli police hitting the people carrying the casket with clubs, nearly causing the body to be dropped.
One of the most unbelievable things I’ve ever seen! Even in death Shireen Abu Akleh is attacked by Israeli forces. Police attack pallbearers carrying the coffin of a journalist who was shot in the face by Israeli soldiers. Why? Because the coffin is draped in the Palestinian flag pic.twitter.com/zr4kNbQLe3
— Hind Hassan (@HindHassanNews) May 13, 2022
Israel police claim that Palestinians began rioting before the funeral and that officers began dispersing the violent people to allow the funeral to move forward.
This will never be unseen. pic.twitter.com/Gtfrjqs6Q3
— Riya Al (@RiyaAlsanah) May 13, 2022
Palestinian mourners of slain #AlJazeera journalist #Shireen_Abu_Akleh are attacked by Israeli forces while carrying her coffin during her funeral procession in #Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/ZaiVqVYX27
— In Context (@incontextmedia) May 13, 2022
Al-Jazeera journalist Imran Khan, who witnessed the attack, said, “the Israeli forces targeted mourners because they did not want them to walk with Abu Akleh’s coffin.” He added that Israeli police discriminated against Muslims seeking to attend her funeral. “The Israeli army is asking people if they are Christian or Muslim. If you’re Muslim you weren’t allowed in,” Khan reported.
"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
Senator Bernie Senator condemned the Israeli attack in a tweet. “The attack by Israeli forces against mourners at the funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is an outrage. The United States must condemn this, and demand an independent investigation into her killing,” the Senator said.
The attack by Israeli forces against mourners at the funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is an outrage. The United States must condemn this, and demand an independent investigation into her killing.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 13, 2022
After the assault outside of the hospital, Israeli police continued to harass Palestinians greaving for Abu Akleh. At a church where the journalist’s parents were receiving condolences, police removed Palestinian flags.
Israeli police come to remove the Palestinian flag from outside the church where Shireen’s family was receiving condolences- and shoved everyone around for no reason. #Shireen_Abu_Akleh pic.twitter.com/41zqOTlKaV
— Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker) May 12, 2022
Israeli police began harassing those mourning Abu Akleh shortly after they killed her by showing up at her house, where people had gathered to celebrate her life. Video shows Israeli police confronting people inside her home. Mairav Zonszein reports the police demanded a Palestinian flag be removed.
Israel police went to Shireen Abu Akleh’s home to ask they take down Palestinian flags hung outside. Yes, that’s right. https://t.co/fwNWxzo5x8
— Mairav Zonszein מרב זונשיין (@MairavZ) May 11, 2022
Abu Akleh was a veteran journalist who covered the Israeli occupation of Palestine for 25 years. On Wednesday, she was shot in the face by a soldier during a raid on the Jenin refugee camp. She was a household name in Palestine and considered a trailblazer and role model by her peers.
Israel Murders Palestinian-American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
