Relatives of Abu Akleh reject Israeli probe into funeral violence

Israeli police "are the aggressors ... they are trying to cover up their actions and mistakes," says the brother of slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as Israeli police complete probe without releasing any findings.

Palestine, Al Jazeera TV, journalists accompanying Abu Akleh and several eyewitnesses blame Israeli troops for killing Shireen Abu Akleh in "cold blood".
Reuters Archive

Palestine, Al Jazeera TV, journalists accompanying Abu Akleh and several eyewitnesses blame Israeli troops for killing Shireen Abu Akleh in "cold blood".

Relatives of the slain Al Jazeera TV journalist Shireen Abu Akleh have rejected the Israeli police's investigation into the violence at her funeral, saying the police are "trying to cover up their actions and mistakes."

Israeli police said on Thursday they have concluded an internal investigation into violence – without releasing any findings. 

Abu Akleh's brother Anton rejected the police probe into the unrest at her funeral.

"We don't care what Israel says or does, everything is clear from the photos. The police are the aggressors," he told the AFP news agency. 

"They are trying to cover up their actions and mistakes."

READ MORE: Global outcry after Israeli police beat mourners at Abu Akleh's funeral

Global outcry 

Israeli police launched the probe following an international outcry after the veteran reporter's coffin was almost dropped when police attacked the pallbearers during her funeral last month.

Thousands had attended the service in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, and images of the unrest were broadcast live on TV. Israeli authorities blamed Palestinian protesters for the ugly scenes.

Police commander Kobi Shabtai said on Thursday that "we cannot remain indifferent to these harsh images and we must investigate so that sensitive events of this order are not violently disturbed by rioters.

"The police under my instructions investigated to assess the action of its forces on the ground in order to draw conclusions and improve the operational progress in this type of event," he said in a statement.

The results of the probe were presented to the minister of public works, said a police spokesperson.

READ MORE: Joint Israel-Palestine probe into journalist's killing 'won't yield truth'

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US seeking more information about probe

Abu Akleh was shot and killed last month while covering an Israeli army raid in Jenin camp in the occupied West Bank.

A Palestinian probe said that an Israeli soldier shot her dead in what it described as a war crime. Al Jazeera, journalists accompanying Abu Akleh, and several eyewitnesses also blame Israeli troops for killing her in "cold blood". 

Israel has denied the allegations. 

Abu Akleh also held US citizenship and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised the Israeli police for targeting her funeral.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the United States was seeking more information about the probe into the funeral.

"Certainly, to us, typically these investigations – the findings of them – are released publicly," Price told reporters in Washington.

Price reiterated the United States believed the funeral had "disturbing intrusions into what should have been a peaceful procession".

READ MORE: Al Jazeera to send case file to ICC over killing of journalist Abu Akleh

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