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French hospital accuses Israel of attacking journalist’s funeral

May 16, 2022 at 1:36 pm

The body of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, is seen outside the French Hospital in East Jerusalem on 12 May 2022 [Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency]

The French Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem, on Monday, accused Israeli police of assaulting the funeral procession of Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh.

On Friday, Israeli police surrounded mourners and used stun grenades and batons to assault pall-bearers carrying Abu Akleh’s casket as it was being carried out of the hospital in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.

“What increases the awfulness of the scene is that it took place inside the hospital campus without any consideration for the sanctity of the place or the occasion,” hospital Director, Jamil Kousa, told a press conference.

He said the Israeli police attack took place, although the hospital is sponsored by the Vatican and the French state.

“They stormed the hospital, attacked the casket and pallbearers, fired rubber bullets and scared patients and visitors,” Kousa lamented.

READ: Israel sniper who killed Shireen did not see her, report says

In the wake of international condemnations of the Israeli attack on the funeral, the Israeli police said it has opened an investigation into the incident. Police said the results of the investigation will be presented to officials in the coming days.

Abu Akleh, a veteran 51 year-old journalist, was covering an Israeli military raid near the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank when she was shot dead on Wednesday. Palestinian officials and her employer, Al Jazeera, say she was murdered by Israeli forces.