RAMALLAH/GAZA, May 12 (NNN-WAFA) – The killing of Al-Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, in the occupied West Bank yesterday morning, sparked condemnation and outrage among the Palestinians.
Abu Akleh’s colleagues, Palestinian eyewitnesses, and medics said that, the “Israeli soldiers opened fire at her and another journalist, when they were covering an Israeli army force raid on the northern West Bank city of Jenin.”
The Palestinian presidency held the Israeli regime fully responsible for the death of Abu Akleh, according to an official statement sent to reporters.
“The murder of Abu Akleh is a heinous crime and part of the daily policy pursued by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinians, their land, and their holy sites,” the statement said.
Abu Akleh, 51, a Palestinian-American, who lived in East Jerusalem, had been working for Al-Jazeera for more than 20 years. She had covered hard news in the Palestinian territories, mainly the conflict and tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
“Abu Akleh was hit in the head by an Israeli bullet, during an Israeli military raid on Jenin refugee camp,” the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement.
It added that Samoudi, another journalist working for Al-Jazeera, was hit in the back.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said, there were several Palestinian journalists covering the raid, when the Israeli soldiers opened fire.
Shaza Hamaysha, a Palestinian journalist, who stood next to Abu Akleh, said that, Shireen “remained on the ground for several minutes, and no one could reach her due to the intensive Israeli soldiers’ fire.”
Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, said that, “it is likely that the Palestinian gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, and they are the ones who caused the unfortunate death of the journalist,” according to Israeli media.
The Israeli army said yesterday that, a special probe team has been set up, to “present the facts in full” over the killing of Abu Akleh.
However, Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), denied Bennett’s statement.
“The Israeli authorities are fully responsible for the assassination of Abu Akleh,” he said, adding that, the Palestinian Authority “will refer the case to the International Criminal Court.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the killing, and decided to attend her funeral in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian state-run TV reported.
Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Ishtaye, said, “Abu Akleh was killed while documenting the horrible crimes committed by the Israeli soldiers, against the Palestinian people.”
He called for an international investigation, including the United Nations and other international bodies, adding that, Palestine “is ready to be part of a reliable investigation committee.”
In Gaza, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement that, “the Israeli assassination of Abu Akleh is condemned in the strongest terms.”– NNN-WAFA
