Coffin carrying veteran journalist’s body proven falling as Israeli police beat mourners with batons

Mourners had marched from Jerusalem's Jaffa Gate to Mount Zion cemetery. They had been met with violence at the St. Joseph hospital complex by Israeli police when they tried to hold Abu Akleh's coffin, which Al Jazeera footage showed being rocked and then falling out of the hands of a few of the pallbearers, as Israeli police beat them with batons.

Crowds walked behind as Abu Akleh's rose-covered coffin was carried by pallbearers and lain all the way down to rest next to her parents' grave. Church bells echoed by the cemetery.

The burial was taking place a day after a memorial procession that brought thousands to the West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah.

Mourners flocked to the city's streets on Friday and huddled in entrance of St. Joseph hospital in East Jerusalem, the place Abu Akleh's body remained until the burial. Muslims carried out Friday prayers and mourners chanted "walking, strolling on foot," demanding that Abu Akleh's coffin be carried and transported on foot from the hospital to the Greek Catholic church, where a service will likely be held, and then to the burial web site. Israeli police had been lined outdoors the hospital, according to CNN reporters. Police roadblocks had been arrange around the hospital.

Mourners carried Abu Akleh's coffin out of the hospital, but were met with strong resistance from Israeli police who compelled them to move the body by car. A flash bomb and tear fuel had been fired, in keeping with CNN reporters.

Al Jazeera dwell footage showed Israeli police beating mourners with batons as they struggled to hold Abu Akleh's coffin. The physique was in turn introduced back contained in the hospital and then transported by automotive, said Al Jazeera.

Footage on social media and Al Jazeera confirmed Abu Akleh's coffin being rocked backwards and forwards after which falling as Israeli police beat pallbearers with batons. It was not immediately clear if the coffin hit the ground.

Israeli police in a press release mentioned that "a whole bunch of rioters began to disrupt public order, even earlier than the funeral started," as they labored to secure the procession.

"Lots of of individuals gathered outside the French hospital (St. Joseph hospital) in Sheikh Jarrah and began chanting nationalist incitement," added the statement.

"In the direction of the exit of the casket from the hospital, rioters started throwing stones toward the policemen from the French hospital plaza, and the policemen were compelled to behave."

Thousands have been packed inside and out of doors the church as Abu Akleh's body arrived. Women have been heard ululating in mourning and priests sang Christian hymns in Arabic because the coffin, draped in Palestinian flags, was carried by way of the group.

The circumstances of her demise remain unclear. The Palestinian Authority on Thursday denied Israel's provide of a joint investigation, insisting on an unbiased process and vowing to try these accused of her killing to the International Prison Court docket (ICC).

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh told Al Jazeera on Thursday that the outcomes of their investigation will probably be launched soon and will embody the autopsy report.

Israeli military investigators confiscated the guns of some IDF troops as part of their inquiry, reported the Washington Submit on Thursday, citing an unnamed IDF official. The weapons were taken in order that they are often made available for ballistics testing, the official stated.

Givara Al-Buderi, a fellow Al Jazeera correspondent and a detailed private good friend of Abu Akleh, mentioned she noticed the entry wound of a bullet simply above the proper eyebrow and was told by the doctor that part of the bullet had remained lodged in Abu Akleh's cranium.

Al-Buderi was referred to as by medical doctors to assist remove Abu Akleh's clothing and alter her for the funeral.

"We took off her garments and had to put a white dress on her," Al-Buderi instructed CNN, "I attempted to put my hand behind her head, but there was nothing there."

"I felt around but there was nothing, nothing left."

An earlier model of this story incorrectly acknowledged where Shireen Abu Akleh's funeral service was as a result of be held. It was being held at a Greek Catholic Church.

CNN's Nadeen Ebrahim, Mostafa Salem and Celine Alkhaldi in Abu Dhabi contributed reporting.