WEST BANK: The prime minister “strongly condemned the assassination” of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was shot dead by Israel’s troops on Wednesday as she covered a raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
Abu Akleh, 51, a Palestinian-American, was wearing a press vest that clearly marked her as a journalist while reporting in the city of Jenin, the Qatar-based outlet said. The Palestinian health ministry said she had been hit in the head by gunfire.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Al Jazeera described her death as blatant, cold-blooded murder by Israeli forces.
“Silencing voices of those who tell stories of oppressed people is part of a deliberate strategy employed by Israel,” Shehbaz Sharif said in a message posted on Twitter.
Strongly condemn the assassination of respected Al-Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, at the hands of Israeli forces. Silencing voices of those who tell stories of oppressed people is part of a deliberate strategy employed by Israel & India in Palestine & Occupied Kashmir.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 11, 2022
Abu Akleh was covering the latest in intensified military incursions in the West Bank launched amid deadly Arab street attacks in Israel, the channel said.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had conducted an operation early Wednesday in Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold of armed Palestinian groups in the northern West Bank.
But Israel added its forces came under attack with heavy gunfire and explosives while carrying out attacks in Jenin, and that they fired back. The IDF said it was investigating “and looking into the possibility that the journalists were hit by the Palestinian gunmen.”
Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in a statement, said that according to information Tel Aviv has gathered so far, “it appears likely that armed Palestinians — who were firing indiscriminately at the time — were responsible for the unfortunate death of the journalist.”
DELIBERATELY TARGETED
Shatha Hanaysha, a Palestinian journalist who was present next to Abu Akleh when she was shot, also told Al Jazeera that there had been no confrontations between Palestinian fighters and the Israeli army, and said that the group of journalists had been targeted.
“We were four journalists, we were all wearing vests, all wearing helmets,” Hanaysha said. “The [Israeli] occupation army did not stop firing even after she collapsed. I couldn’t even extend my arm to pull her because of the shots. The army was adamant on shooting to kill.”
A video aired by Al Jazeera shows gunfire ringing out in an open area. Abu Akleh can be seen lying on the side of a road as another journalist crouches nearby and a man screams for an ambulance.
Both reporters were wearing blue flak jackets clearly marked with the word “PRESS.”
The network interrupted its broadcast to announce her death. In a statement flashed on its channel, it called on the international community to “condemn and hold the Israeli occupation forces accountable for deliberately targeting and killing our colleague.”
“We pledge to prosecute the perpetrators legally, no matter how hard they try to cover up their crime, and bring them to justice,” Al Jazeera said in a statement.
“Very said to learn of the death of American and Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh,” Tom Nides, the US ambassador to Israel, wrote on Twitter. “I encourage a thorough investigation into the circumstances of her death and the injury of at least one other journalist today in Jenin.”
Very sad to learn of the death of American and Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh of @AJArabic @AJEnglish. I encourage a thorough investigation into the circumstances of her death and the injury of at least one other journalist today in Jenin.
— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) May 11, 2022
Tensions have risen in recent months as Israel has grappled with a wave of attacks which killed at least 18 people since March 22, including an Arab-Israeli police officer and two Ukrainians.
The Israeli army has blamed some of the attacks on residents of Jenin and has stepped up operations in the area in recent weeks.
A total of 30 Palestinians and three Israeli Arabs have died during the same period, according to an AFP tally, among them perpetrators of attacks and those killed by Israeli security forces in West Bank operations.
— With Reuters, AP, AFP
” Thou shalt NOT commit murder ” is one of the many of Lord God’s Command. The Jews do not steal or commit murder. The European thieves and murderers, have been coming to this land since 2100 years to steal this land and commit murders in the process. This is one of the murders they have been committing since 2100 years from time to time when they have been able to attack and occupy this land. This is the third time since 2100 years ago they have occupied this land.
The Jews, living mostly in the USA and Europe, have been showing grave concerns at people behaving like Godless Romans and defaming them by calling themselves i.e. the European thieves and murderers , Jews.
The True Jews disown these fake Jews. The True Jews lay no false claim. Thus they lay no claim on Palestine or go to live there. Indeed the True Jews have been coming out on the streets of cities in the USA and Europe to show their Judaic concern and support for the oppressed people of Palestine. In the history of Palestine the Godless Romans have invaded and occupied this land three times. The first time they occupied 2100 years ago. Their occupation ended 1700 years ago after a long protracted campaign lasting 393 years by the forefathers of the Palestinian people. Exactly the way the Palestinains have to campaign today. The Godless Romans came back to this land again about 1000 years ago.
Were thrown out of this land after remaining 88 years in occupation. They came back again about 100 years ago. For how long? Most possibly till the time, the history of this land starts repeating itself.