The European Union and the United States have expressed outrage at the violence used by the Israeli police in East Jerusalem on Friday against the funeral procession shot dead on Wednesday Al Jazeera-journalist Shireen Abu Akleh (51).
The European Union said it was “shocked” by the “unnecessary violence”.
Washington said it was “deeply troubled”. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said every family has the right to say goodbye to their loved ones “with dignity and without hindrance.”
Thousands of people had gathered in Jerusalem’s Old City on Friday to bid farewell to Abu Akleh. On images of Al Jazeera could be seen that the police hit hard on the funeral procession. As a result, Abu Akleh’s coffin nearly fell to the ground.
Israel claims mourners threw stones
According to the aid organization the Red Crescent, 33 people were injured. Six of them were taken to hospital. Israeli authorities said six mourners had been arrested for throwing rocks and glass bottles.
According to Israel, the police intervened because hundreds of rioters disturbed public order. A journalist from Al Jazeera said, however, that Israeli security forces did not want mourners to accompany Abu Akleh’s coffin and that the Israelis used force because of this.
Only Israel mentions Palestinian bullet as an option
Abu Akleh died while reporting an Israeli army raid on the occupied West Bank. An initial investigation by the Israeli police states that it is not possible to determine who fired the bullet that killed Abu Akleh.
According to the Israeli police, the bullet came from a Palestinian gunman or a stray bullet from an Israeli sniper.
The Palestinian prosecutor’s office in the West Bank city of Ramallah later said preliminary results of an investigation show Israeli soldiers killed Abu Akleh. That also says Al Jazeerathe journalist’s employer.
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