Video shows cops inside Jerusalem hospital from where journalist’s funeral set out

Newly released security camera footage from the Saint Joseph Hospital’s in Jerusalem shows police officers armed with batons running through the facility where the funeral procession of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh began Friday.

In a video published by the Kan public broadcaster, which says the incident occurred before her coffin was brought out of the hospital, an officer is seen appearing to fire a smoke grenade in the direction of the hospital, after which footage from a camera inside the building shows them entering.

Additional footage from the hospital shows a number of Palestinians running, apparently from the police, as well as the officers streaming through a corridor in the medical center.

תיעוד חדש: כך נכנס כוח משטרה לבית החולים שממנו יצא ארונה של העיתונאית שנהרגה בג'נין@SuleimanMas1 @nurityohanan pic.twitter.com/cP7egt8KDS

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) May 16, 2022

The police force has faced criticism — both domestically and internationally — over its handling of the funeral, after charging at Palestinians holding and surrounding the casket outside the hospital, beating them with batons and nearly toppling the coffin. Police have said they intervened after “rioters” tried to seize the coffin and attack cops.

Abu Akleh was killed amid clashes between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops during a military raid in Jenin. Al Jazeera and the Palestinians have blamed Israel for her death, while Israel says it remains unclear who fired the fatal shot.