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 were met with violence on the St. Joseph hospital complex by Israeli police when they tried to hold Abu Akleh's coffin, which Al Jazeera footage showed being rocked and then falling out of the hands of among 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 down to relaxation next to her parents' grave. Church bells echoed by the cemetery.

The burial was happening a day after a memorial procession that brought thousands to the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Mourners flocked to town's streets on Friday and huddled in entrance of St. Joseph hospital in East Jerusalem, where 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 might be held, and then to the burial website. Israeli police had been lined outdoors the hospital, in keeping with CNN reporters. Police roadblocks were set up around the hospital.

Mourners carried Abu Akleh's coffin out of the hospital, however have been met with robust resistance from Israeli police who compelled them to transport the body by automotive. A flash bomb and tear gasoline had been fired, in keeping with CNN reporters.

Al Jazeera reside footage confirmed Israeli police beating mourners with batons as they struggled to carry Abu Akleh's coffin. The physique was in flip brought again inside the hospital and then transported by car, stated Al Jazeera.

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

Israeli police in a statement mentioned that "a whole lot of rioters began to disrupt public order, even earlier than the funeral began," as they worked to safe the procession.

"A whole bunch of individuals gathered outdoors the French hospital (St. Joseph hospital) in Sheikh Jarrah and commenced chanting nationalist incitement," added the statement.

"Towards the exit of the casket from the hospital, rioters began throwing stones towards the policemen from the French hospital plaza, and the policemen had been pressured to behave."

1000's have been packed inside and outside the church as Abu Akleh's physique arrived. Ladies have been heard ululating in mourning and clergymen sang Christian hymns in Arabic as the coffin, draped in Palestinian flags, was carried through the crowd.

The circumstances of her death remain unclear. The Palestinian Authority on Thursday denied Israel's provide of a joint investigation, insisting on an impartial process and vowing to strive these accused of her killing to the Worldwide Felony Court (ICC).

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh instructed Al Jazeera on Thursday that the results of their investigation shall be launched soon and will embody the autopsy report.

Israeli navy investigators confiscated the weapons of some IDF troops as a part of their inquiry, reported the Washington Publish on Thursday, citing an unnamed IDF official. The weapons were taken in order that they are often made available for ballistics testing, the official mentioned.

Givara Al-Buderi, a fellow Al Jazeera correspondent and a detailed personal pal of Abu Akleh, mentioned she noticed the entry wound of a bullet simply above the best eyebrow and was instructed by the doctor that a part of the bullet had remained lodged in Abu Akleh's skull.

Al-Buderi was called by docs to help remove Abu Akleh's clothing and alter her for the funeral.

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

"I felt around but there was nothing, nothing left."

An earlier model of this story incorrectly stated where Shireen Abu Akleh's funeral service was as a consequence 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.