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The murder of the Palestinian-American Aljazeera journalist sparked a state of international rage. The 51-year-old journalist’s death came just days after her assassination with a bullet in the head as she wore her helmet and protective shield, the Israeli Occupation forces invaded her funeral and assaulted mourners and Pallbearers which left no room for speculations over Israeli forces’ brutality, and cast any doubt over the deliberate nature of her murder.
Quickly following the death of Abu Akleh, a lot of news media outlets jumped to adopt the Israeli narrative which rushed to drop responsibility and framed the story of a girl killed through the friendly fire, despite the direct testimonies and the first-hand account of her colleagues who were with her on set when she was brutally murdered.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s allegation that the slain journalist may have been shot by Palestinians, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz later said that Abu Akleh was possibly killed due to fire from “our side.”
The Israeli hysterical assault on her mourners– who assembled peacefully, as they carried her coffin with love and respect for the work she have done over her 25-years long career as a well-respected and beloved member of the Palestinian society, caused more outrage as footage of the police beating unarmed mourners went viral across T.V screens and social media
The US Condemns
“We regret the intrusion into what should have been a peaceful procession,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday, calling the footage of Israeli police attacking mourners “deeply disturbing.”
US Press Secretary Jen Psaki also commented on the violence, “We have all seen those images. They’re obviously deeply disturbing,” she said at a briefing.
“We believe this is a day where we should all be marking, including everyone there, the memory of a remarkable journalist who lost her life. We regret the intrusion into what should have been a peaceful procession. We’ve urged respect for the funeral procession, the mourners, and the family at this sensitive time,” she said.
The Biden administration also weighed in on the funeral attacks. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said she was “deeply distressed” by the images.
Deeply distressed by the images from Shireen Abu Akleh’s funeral procession. The tragedy of her killing should be handled with the utmost respect, sobriety, and care.
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) May 13, 2022
The UNSC adopted a U.S.-Norway-UAE drafted Press Statement condemning the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and calling for an investigation. The U.S. again expresses condolences to her family and underscores the critical role of journalists and importance of media freedom. pic.twitter.com/2y5KO6wmS0
— U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) May 14, 2022
a number of Congressional lawmakers and both current and former US diplomats expressed outrage after footage emerged showing Israeli police officers beating mourners in the funeral procession of slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in East Jerusalem on Friday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said on Twitter, “The attack by Israeli forces against mourners at the funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is an outrage,”
Adding,”The United States must condemn this, and demand an independent investigation into her killing.”
The attack by Israeli forces against mourners at the funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is an outrage. The United States must condemn this, and demand an independent investigation into her killing.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 13, 2022
“This is just cruel,” Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota said in a tweet.
This is just cruel. https://t.co/XaiL2s8vTC
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 13, 2022
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a tweet responding to the footage said, “This is awful to watch.”
This is awful to watch. I’m traveling in Connecticut today but I have my team working to get answers about what happened here. https://t.co/82PLKHEA39
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) May 13, 2022
The Europian union appalled and calling for accountability
“The European Union is appalled by the scenes unfolding” at the funeral procession of Abu Akleh in the occupied East Jerusalem, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
The EU condemns the “disproportionate use of force and the disrespectful behaviour by the Israeli police against the participants of the mourning procession.”
Adding, “Allowing for a peaceful farewell and letting mourners grieve in peace without harassment and humiliation, is the minimal human respect.”
The EU finalized the statement saying, “EU reiterates its call for a thorough and independent investigation that clarifies all the circumstances of Shireen Abu Akleh’s death that brings those responsible for her killing to justice.”
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General at the united nations stated on Friday, May 13th, in response to questions asked at the Briefing, that the Secretary-General followed the events with great sadness. The funeral of Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, in occupied East Jerusalem.
He added, “The Secretary-General was “deeply disturbed” and continued to urge respect for fundamental human rights, including the rights to”freedom of opinion and expression and to peaceful assembly.”
Irland calls Israel’s police brutality ‘disgraceful and brutal’
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defense Simon Coveney denounced the Israeli police attack on grievers during the funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jerusalem yesterday describing the police behavior as disgraceful and brutal.
“These are disgraceful scenes of police brutality at a hugely sensitive funeral. No self-respecting democracy could stand over this treatment of people,” said Coveney in a statement.
He added saying, that it’s “Unacceptable and should be roundly condemned by the international community.”
Jordan denounces
Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman al-Safadi, criticized the violence that occurred in Jerusalem during the funeral procession of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
“We strongly condemn the despicable Israeli behavior at Shireen Abu Akleh’s funeral,” Safadi stated in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic.
Egypt decries
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry expressed its strong rejection and condemnation of Israel’s attack on the funeral of late Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
‘Such unacceptable and unjustified attack represent a violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and the sanctity of the dead’, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said in a statement.
Germany stops vigils
Unlike other countries that rejected the brutality of the Israeli army, the German government strained the freedom of expression as police in Berlin have banned a vigil in memory
The gathering is one of several that have been prohibited by police as part of an unprecedented and broad-based prohibition on pro-Palestinian protests in Berlin.
Jüdische Stimme, a Jewish group that supports Palestinian rights organized the gathering in memory of Abu Akleh.
police told the group that the event – planned to take place on Friday evening – fell under the ban on protests in the run-up to Nakba Day.
Nakba Day is marked by Palestinians every year on May 15, the anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel, which led to the expulsion of 700,000 Palestinians and the continuing occupation.
The Police argued that protests presented an “immediate risk” of anti-Semitic chants, intimidation, and violence.
Hoban, a music composer who lives in Frankfurt, said the clampdown on the pro-Palestinian protest was part of a wider tendency by the German state to show unconditional support for Israel.
Israel unmasked
Aaron David Miller, a former US diplomat who advised multiple secretaries of state on the Middle East, said in a tweet that regardless of what an investigation into Abu Akleh’s death reveals the Israeli government has “already lost” the “battle for public opinion.”
“Hard to imagine any greater self-inflicted wound than scenes of Israeli police attacking Palestinians, including those carrying her coffin,” Miller added.
Palestinians vow to unmask the occupation and not let Israel tarnish the investigation that will reveal their unflattering truth.
Palestinian Authority Civil Affairs head Hussein al-Sheikh said via Twitter,”Israel requested a joint investigation and the handing over of the bullet that assassinated the journalist Shireen, and we refused that, and we affirmed that our investigation would be completed independently, and we will inform her family, America, Qatar, and all official authorities of the results of the investigation.”
UN human rights experts on Friday demanded an “independent, impartial, effective, thorough and transparent investigation” into Abu Akleh’s killing. “The killing of Abu Akleh is another serious attack on media freedom and freedom of expression, amid the escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank,” the experts said.
Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker said Israeli actions surrounding Abu Akleh’s funeral are “highlighting the occupation”
Dekker, speaking from occupied East Jerusalem, noted that police had entered Abu Akleh’s home on the day she was killed, removed a Palestinian flag and told mourners to turn off patriotic music.
On Thursday night, Abu Akleh’s brother, Tony, was summoned by Israeli authorities and told to instruct mourners not to carry Palestinian flags or to recite Palestinian chants.
The Palestinian Authority and Al Jazeera, which suffered from a which has had a tense relationship with Israel for years due to its coverage of what’s happening in the region, most of which is less-than-flattering for the apartheid government, have blamed Israel for murdering Abu Akleh on purpose.
Al Jazeera correspondent Givara Budeiri, who was a close colleague and friend of Abu Akela said the police crackdown was like killing Abu Akleh again. “It seems her voice isn’t silent,” she said during a report by the broadcaster.
Israel was highly offended by the sense of unity the death of Abu Akela caused
“No showing of Palestinian unity, no showing of Palestinian identity,” Dekker said. “I think this is what it’s really about.”
Report by Hanya Aljamal
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