Statement from the Jerusalem Fund
This morning, Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian journalist working for Al-Jazeera has died as a result of a fatal shooting to the face by an Israeli sniper while covering the situation in Jenin Refugee Camp, in the northern West Bank, the occupied Palestinian territory. Abu Akleh’s colleague, Ali Al-Samudi, was also deliberately shot in the back and is in stable condition. In addition to Abu Akleh and al-Sumudi, other journalists were present and clearly identified themselves as such through their press jackets and protective gear. All of whom reported that Abu Akleh was deliberately targeted by Israeli soldiers.
During this same period last year, Israeli forces intentionally destroyed 17 national and international media offices, including 4 news agencies, and injured 3 journalists during a military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian and international journalists are systematically targeted by Israeli forces. In April 2022, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) leading human rights lawyers from Bindmans LLP and Doughty Street Chambers submitted a formal complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC). While this is not the first to be submitted to this body, the complaint details the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists on behalf of four journalists who were killed or maimed by Israeli snipers while covering demonstrations in Gaza, in addition to the targeting and bombing of media outlets. In 2019, the PJS documented 760 rights violations against journalists, including more than 200 cases of physical assaults, including dozens of injuries caused by rubber-coated steel bullets, and at least ten serious injuries by live ammunition. Since 2000 alone, 46 Palestinian journalists were knowingly killed while Israel, the perpetrator, enjoys impunity as numerous complaints continue to be submitted, with inaction and lack of accountability. The lack of independent international investigations into the extrajudicial killings of media workers violates the right to life and freedom of expression, is in breach of international humanitarian law, and may amount to war crimes.
As other Palestinian journalists, Shireen worked with integrity, professionalism, and passion. Without investigating, prosecuting, and ensuring consequences for its crimes, Israel will continue with violations of the right to life, freedom of expression and international law, amounting to war crimes.
