Israeli police attack Palestinian mourners carrying casket of Shireen Abu Akleh

JERUSALEM — Three days after Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot in the head and killed by Israeli security forces while covering clashes in Jenin, West Bank, Israeli police stormed St. Joseph’s Hospital and beat Palestinian mourners intent on carrying her casket to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church near Jaffa Gate for her funeral service.

Video footage taken both inside and outside St. Joseph’s Hospital showed Israeli police striking mourners carrying Abu Akleh’s casket with batons. At one point in the footage, Abu Akleh’s casket is nearly dropped onto the pavement of the hospital parking lot.

Another video showing ISF elements who stormed Saint Joseph Hospital beating a group of Palestinians carrying the body of late Journalist Shireen Abu Aqla who was shot dead by ISF during ISF operation in Jenin City three days ago. pic.twitter.com/RAhqpbxDGb

— Local Focus – Security Alerts (@LocalFocus1) May 13, 2022

Israeli police reportedly took control of Abu Akleh’s casket and transported it to the church themselves.

Following the funeral service, however, a large crowd of mourners carried Abu Akleh’s casket from the Melkite Greek Catholic Church to Mount Zion Cemetery, where it will be interned.

Follow up: Video: Groups of Palestinians gathering in front of the Greek Catholic Church at Jaffa Gate pic.twitter.com/bl00N1Um2S

— Local Focus – Security Alerts (@LocalFocus1) May 13, 2022