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 hold Abu Akleh's coffin, which Al Jazeera footage showed being rocked and then falling out of the palms 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 down to rest subsequent to her parents' grave. Church bells echoed by means of the cemetery.

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

Mourners flocked to the city's streets on Friday and huddled in front 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, strolling on foot," demanding that Abu Akleh's coffin be carried and transported on foot from the hospital to the Greek Catholic church, the place a service will likely be held, after which to the burial web site. Israeli police have been lined outdoors the hospital, in line with CNN reporters. Police roadblocks have been arrange across the hospital.

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

Al Jazeera dwell footage confirmed Israeli police beating mourners with batons as they struggled to carry Abu Akleh's coffin. The body was in turn brought back contained in the hospital after which transported by car, said Al Jazeera.

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

Israeli police in a statement stated that "tons of of rioters started to disrupt public order, even earlier than the funeral began," as they worked to secure the procession.

"Lots of 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 towards the policemen from the French hospital plaza, and the policemen have been pressured to act."

1000's had been packed inside and outdoors the church as Abu Akleh's physique arrived. Women had been heard ululating in mourning and priests sang Christian hymns in Arabic because the coffin, draped in Palestinian flags, was carried by way of the gang.

The circumstances of her dying stay unclear. The Palestinian Authority on Thursday denied Israel's supply of a joint investigation, insisting on an independent course of and vowing to attempt those accused of her killing to the International Felony Court (ICC).

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh told Al Jazeera on Thursday that the outcomes of their investigation can be released soon and will embrace the post-mortem report.

Israeli army 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 so that they can be made available for ballistics testing, the official stated.

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

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

"We took off her garments and had to put a white gown on her," Al-Buderi told CNN, "I attempted to put my hand behind her head, however there was nothing there."

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

An earlier version of this story incorrectly acknowledged the place Shireen Abu Akleh's funeral service was on account 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.