Blinken says US ‘deeply troubled’ by Israel storming funeral

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is “very concerned” by Israeli police’s involvement into the funeral of deceased Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh on Friday.

“We were deeply troubled to see the images of Israeli police intruding into her funeral procession today,” Blinken said in a statement.

“Every family deserves to be able to lay their loved ones to rest in a dignified and unimpeded manner,” he said.

“We remain in close contact with our Israeli and Palestinian counterparts and call on all to maintain calm and avoid any actions that could further escalate tensions.”

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, had previously described the photographs as “clearly very troubling” and expressed “regret” for the intrusion, without directly criticizing US ally Israel.

Pallbearers struggled to keep Abu Akleh’s coffin from tumbling to the ground as baton-wielding Israeli police officers came at them, seizing Palestinian flags from mourners, according to television footage.

Al Jazeera’s Abu Akleh was slain while reporting on protests in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

Israel, according to the Qatar-based network, targeted her on purpose.

Initially, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that armed Palestinians were “likely” to be to blame, but Israel then backtracked and indicated it was investigating.

The US has demanded an open and transparent probe into her death.