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Israeli police hit with rubber truncheons today the participants in the funeral of the killed journalist of the Al Jazeera network, Shireen Abu Aqla, whose murder during an operation of the Israeli army in the West Bank, has caused deep anger and escalation of violence.
The woman’s coffin almost fell to the ground as police with rubber truncheons attacked the crowd of Palestinians around him, saying they reacted after being stoned.
Abu Aqla was killed in unclear circumstances Wednesday during the Israeli army’s attack on a Palestinian refugee camp in Yenin, in severe scenes widely condemned by the international community.
Also disturbing footage of today’s funeral showed Palestinians escorting the journalist’s coffin to the hospital compound as they were pushed and beaten by Israeli police.
Objects were seen being fired at officers, who also fired tear gas.
In a statement, Israeli police said officers used “riot gear” after being stoned.
Meanwhile in the wake of Israeli army attacks in Yenin, an Israeli officer was killed by militants during the operation to arrest a suspect, the military announced.
Palestinian authorities said the local Al Jazeera journalist was killed by the Israeli army, while Israel says it is impossible to determine as the Palestinian side was also being shot.
BBC Jerusalem correspondent Tom Bateman said the pressure was mounting for a transparent investigation into Abu Aqla’s death, following reports that the bullet that killed him had been recovered from an autopsy but had been used by several types of weapons.
Shireen Abu Aqla, was a 51-year-old Palestinian-American who had long reported to Al Jazeera about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Al Jaseera’s coverage of the conflict has often been criticized by Israel as “one-sided”.
The journalist was given a special funeral at the compound of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas where the woman was called a “martyr of free speech” who “sacrificed her life” to defend the Palestinian cause.
The incident comes at a time of fierce tensions between Israel and the Palestinians for nearly two months with frequent Israeli army attacks and arrests in the occupied Palestinian territories and Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel that have claimed several lives.
In the video footage from the incident, Abu Akleh is seen wearing a distinctive blue vest that reads ‘PRESS.’
Journalist Mujahed Al-Saadi, who accompanied Abu Akleh in covering the action in Yenin, told Reuters that they had been targeted by the Israeli army after having identify themselves as journalists.
“When I got back Shireen was on the ground while Shatha was defending himself in a tree screaming from the shooting,” he said.
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