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 at the St. Joseph hospital complex by Israeli police once they tried to carry 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 rest next to her dad and mom' grave. Church bells echoed via the cemetery.

The burial was happening a day after a memorial procession that brought 1000's 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 body remained until 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 might be held, and then to the burial web site. Israeli police were lined outside the hospital, based on CNN reporters. Police roadblocks have been set up across the hospital.

Mourners carried Abu Akleh's coffin out of the hospital, however were met with sturdy resistance from Israeli police who compelled them to move the physique by automobile. A flash bomb and tear fuel had been fired, based on CNN reporters.

Al Jazeera dwell footage showed Israeli police beating mourners with batons as they struggled to carry Abu Akleh's coffin. The physique was in flip brought back inside the hospital after which transported by automobile, mentioned Al Jazeera.

Footage on social media and Al Jazeera showed Abu Akleh's coffin being rocked backwards and forwards 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 statement mentioned that "a whole lot of rioters started to disrupt public order, even before the funeral started," as they worked to safe the procession.

"Tons of of individuals gathered outdoors the French hospital (St. Joseph hospital) in Sheikh Jarrah and started chanting nationalist incitement," added the statement.

"Towards the exit of the casket from the hospital, rioters began throwing stones toward the policemen from the French hospital plaza, and the policemen have been forced to act."

Hundreds were packed inside and outside the church as Abu Akleh's body arrived. Girls had been heard ululating in mourning and priests sang Christian hymns in Arabic because the coffin, draped in Palestinian flags, was carried by means of the group.

The circumstances of her death remain unclear. The Palestinian Authority on Thursday denied Israel's offer of a joint investigation, insisting on an unbiased process and vowing to attempt those accused of her killing to the International Felony Courtroom (ICC).

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh instructed Al Jazeera on Thursday that the outcomes of their investigation will probably be launched quickly and can include the autopsy report.

Israeli navy investigators confiscated the guns of some IDF troops as part of their inquiry, reported the Washington Post on Thursday, citing an unnamed IDF official. The weapons were taken so that they are often made obtainable for ballistics testing, the official said.

Givara Al-Buderi, a fellow Al Jazeera correspondent and a close private buddy of Abu Akleh, said she noticed the entry wound of a bullet simply above the right eyebrow and was informed by the doctor that part of the bullet had remained lodged in Abu Akleh's skull.

Al-Buderi was known as by doctors to help take away Abu Akleh's clothes and change her for the funeral.

"We took off her garments and needed to put a white gown on her," Al-Buderi informed CNN, "I tried to put my hand behind her head, but there was nothing there."

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

An earlier version of this story incorrectly acknowledged where Shireen Abu Akleh's funeral service was because 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.