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 on the St. Joseph hospital complex by Israeli police when they tried to carry Abu Akleh's coffin, which Al Jazeera footage confirmed being rocked and then falling out of the arms of some 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 right down to relaxation next to her parents' grave. Church bells echoed by means of the cemetery.

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

Mourners flocked to town's streets on Friday and huddled in entrance of St. Joseph hospital in East Jerusalem, the place Abu Akleh's physique remained till the burial. Muslims carried out Friday prayers and mourners chanted "walking, walking 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 can be held, after which to the burial web site. Israeli police have been lined outside the hospital, based on CNN reporters. Police roadblocks had been set up across the hospital.

Mourners carried Abu Akleh's coffin out of the hospital, but have been met with strong resistance from Israeli police who compelled them to transport the physique by automotive. A flash bomb and tear fuel were fired, in line with CNN reporters.

Al Jazeera reside footage showed Israeli police beating mourners with batons as they struggled to carry Abu Akleh's coffin. The body was in flip introduced back contained in the hospital after which transported by automotive, mentioned Al Jazeera.

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

Israeli police in a press release mentioned that "lots of of rioters started to disrupt public order, even before the funeral began," as they labored to safe the procession.

"Hundreds of individuals gathered outdoors the French hospital (St. Joseph hospital) in Sheikh Jarrah and commenced chanting nationalist incitement," added the assertion.

"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 pressured to act."

1000's were packed inside and out of doors the church as Abu Akleh's physique arrived. Women were heard ululating in mourning and monks sang Christian hymns in Arabic as the coffin, draped in Palestinian flags, was carried by way of the group.

The circumstances of her dying stay unclear. The Palestinian Authority on Thursday denied Israel's provide of a joint investigation, insisting on an unbiased process and vowing to attempt these accused of her killing to the International Criminal Courtroom (ICC).

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh informed Al Jazeera on Thursday that the results of their investigation will probably be launched soon and will include the autopsy report.

Israeli navy investigators confiscated the guns of some IDF troops as a part of their inquiry, reported the Washington Put up on Thursday, citing an unnamed IDF official. The weapons have been taken in order that they can be made out there for ballistics testing, the official said.

Givara Al-Buderi, a fellow Al Jazeera correspondent and a close personal buddy of Abu Akleh, mentioned she saw the entry wound of a bullet simply above the best eyebrow and was instructed by the physician that part of the bullet had remained lodged in Abu Akleh's cranium.

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

"We took off her clothes and needed to put a white costume on her," Al-Buderi told CNN, "I tried to place my hand behind her head, however there was nothing there."

"I felt round however there was nothing, nothing left."

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the place 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.