The funeral of Shireen Abu Akleh , the Al Jazeera journalist who was killed by Israeli forces this week while reporting in the occupied West Bank, is set to take place in her hometown of Jerusalem.
Friday’s events are expected to begin with a procession from the St Louis French Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, where Abu Akleh’s body remained overnight, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Israeli police raided Abu Akleh’s family home on Thursday, forcibly removing the Palestinian flag from the residence.
Anton Abu Akleh, Shireen’s brother, was also summoned by Israeli police on Thursday evening. According to Israeli media reports, police warned him they would disperse the funeral proceedings if there was an “escalation”.
Separately on Friday, Israeli forces conducted a raid at dawn in Jenin, injuring at least 13 Palestinians, including two in difficult condition, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Local media said Israeli forces shelled parts of a wanted Palestinian’s home during a several hour siege before arresting him.
The Israeli army said one of its ‘Yamam’ special unit soldiers has been seriously injured during armed confrontations with Palestinian fighters.
Aljazeera
