Israeli forces use heavy hand at another Palestinian funeral

More than 70 Palestinians were wounded in overnight confrontations with Israeli forces at a Jerusalem funeral, Palestinian medics said Tuesday.

The unrest unfolded as Palestinians were burying Walid Al Sharif, 23, who died on Saturday of wounds suffered during confrontations last month at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al Aqsa Mosque Compound.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said the injuries occurred “during clashes with occupation forces”, with Israeli forces firing rubber bullets and stun grenades, in and around Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

Sharif’s body was carried by mourners across the Al Aqsa compound and brought through the Old City’s Herod Gate, before burial at a nearby cemetery.

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Club advocacy group said more than 50 people were arrested.

The confrontations erupted days after occupation authorities’ raid on the funeral procession of veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead during an Israeli forces raid in the West Bank.

Palestinians and the TV network said Israeli forces killed her, while Israel said Palestinian gunfire may have been to blame.

Anger over her death was compounded on Friday when baton-wielding Israeli forces in occupied East Jerusalem beat pallbearers carrying Abu Akleh’s coffin which was covered by a Palestinian flag.

The chaotic incident has been strongly condemned around the world, including by the United States, European Union, United Nations and the Vatican.