Israel to probe police action at journalist’s funeral
Israel’s police chief on Saturday ordered an investigation into the actions of officers at the funeral of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, after they charged the procession and beat pallbearers, sparking global outrage. Thousands of mourners packed Jerusalem’s Old City on Friday for the burial of the 51-year-old Al Jazeera reporter. The Palestinian-american was killed two days earlier during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.
Television footage showed pallbearers struggling to stop Abu Akleh’s casket from falling to the ground as baton-wielding police charged towards them, grabbing Palestinian flags.
“The Israel Police Commissioner in coordination with the Minister of Public Security has instructed that an investigation be conducted into the incident,” the police said in a statement.
The United States was “deeply troubled to see the images of Israeli police intruding into her funeral procession,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.
The European Union condemned what it said was “unnecessary force” used by the Israeli police.
On Saturday the foundation of late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, said scenes of Israeli police attacking the pallbearers were “chillingly reminiscent” of what happened during the funerals of anti-apartheid activists.
Israel and the Palestinians traded blame after Abu Akleh was shot in the head on Wednesday near Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. She had been wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest marked “Press”.
Israel’s army said an interim investigation could not determine who fired the fatal bullet, noting stray Palestinian gunfire or Israeli sniper fire were both
possible causes. The Palestinian public prosecution said an initial probe showed the only origin of the shooting was the Israeli occupation forces.
Al Jazeera said Israel killed her deliberately and in cold blood.
In a rare, unanimous statement, the UN Security Council condemned the killing, calling for “an immediate, thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation”, diplomats said.
Abu Akleh was a highly respected reporter and her funeral drew massive crowds. As her body left St Joseph’s hospital in Israeli-annexed
east Jerusalem, police stormed the mourners who had hoisted Palestinian flags.
The Jerusalem Red Crescent said 33 people were injured, of whom six were hospitalised. Police said they arrested six people.
Officers then tried to prevent thousands of mourners from following the coffin to the cemetery, but ultimately relented and did not intervene as Palestinian flags were raised, AFP reporters said.
The United States, European Union and United Nations have backed calls for a full investigation into her killing.
Israel has publicly called for a joint probe, which the Palestinian Authority has rejected.
A PA official said on Saturday that the authority would welcome the “participation of all international bodies in the investigation”.
“What happened in her funeral yesterday by the #occupation forces reinforces our position that rejects #Israel’s participation in this investigation,” Hussein Al Sheikh added on Twitter. She “was the sister of all Palestinians”, her brother Antoun Abu Akleh said.
Fresh violence erupted on Friday in the West Bank, including
What happened in her funeral yesterday by the #occupation forces reinforces our position that rejects #Israel’s participation in this investigation.”
Hussein Al Sheikh
PA official
a raid and clashes around Jenin refugee camp that claimed the life of an Israeli officer. — afp