Palestine Bids Farewell to Shireen Abu Akleh as Israeli Army Attacks Funeral

On Friday, the Israeli army launched a violent attack on the funeral procession of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as it left the French hospital. Russia Today’s reporter indicated that the assault was due to Israeli authorities' requirement to transport Abu Akleh's body by car rather than on foot. A funeral prayer for the late journalist was held at the Catholic Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Bab al-Khalil within the Old City of Jerusalem. Shireen Abu Akleh, a 51-year-old Christian born in East Jerusalem, was buried alongside her parents in the "Zion" cemetery near the Old City. Thousands of Palestinians paid tribute to Abu Akleh on Thursday. Palestinian officials, foreign diplomats, and a large crowd of Palestinians attended the official ceremonies in Ramallah at the Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank, where the journalist’s coffin was wrapped in the Palestinian flag.