Israeli security forces have attacked the funeral procession of slain journalist of Aljazeera, Shireen Abu Akleh.
Akleh was killed by Israeli forces this week while reporting in the occupied West Bank.
The funeral was set to take place in her hometown of Jerusalem.
Funeral programme of the late journalist began with a procession from the St Louis French Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, where Abu Akleh’s body remained overnight,
But along the route, Isreali forces intercepted the procession, physically assaulting those who carried the casket bearing the remains of the late journalist.
The Palestinians defied the attack against them by the police and forcefully conveyed the casket to the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, where a funeral service will be held in the afternoon at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin.
A live video by Aljazeera showed very disturbing photos of how the Israeli police in their hundreds were using their batons to physically assault the crowd of Palestinians in the procession.
Amidst the attacks, the Palestinians surge on forcefully, shouting “Gaza”, “Gaza”, “Gaza” and “Allahu Akbar,” “Allahu Akbar”, “Allahu Akbar”, as well as waiving the Palestinian flag.
Having reached the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, Catholic priests at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin began funeral service amidst changings, shouting and clippings by thousands of the mourners who thronged the venue of the service.
Before the beginning of the procession, Israeli police closed roads leading to the hospital in Sheikh Jarrah at noon on Friday, as Palestinians began to gather ahead of the procession. Earlier on Friday, police also attempted to prevent Palestinians from placing posters of Abu Akleh outside the church.
Aljazeera reported early Friday morning that Abu Akleh, who was killed at the age of 51, will then be buried next to her parents at the nearby Mount Zion Protestant Cemetery.
Thousands are expected to turn out for the funeral of the veteran reporter, whose killing has sparked outrage among Palestines , raising fears of an increase in tensions in Jerusalem, after weeks of Israeli army raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which have injured hundreds of Palestinians.
