JI wish to express my condolences to the family of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, killed by the occupying forces” Israelis, said the emir of Qatar during a visit to Tehran. “We must hold accountable the perpetrators of this heinous crime”said the Qatari monarch once more during a joint press conference with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
The American-Palestinian journalist was covering an Israeli military operation in the West Bank when she was shot and killed Wednesday morning in Jenin. She wore a bullet-proof vest marked “press” and a news helmet. Israel, following saying that she had “most likely” succumbed to Palestinian fire, said he did not rule out that the bullet was fired by his soldiers.
Qatari channel Al Jazeera on Wednesday accused Israeli forces of killing “deliberately” his journalist, with a bullet in the head. Qatari Deputy Foreign Minister Lolwah al-Khater also accused Israeli forces of having “killed the journalist by shooting her in the face while she was wearing a ‘press’ jacket and helmet”. “She was covering their attack in the Jenin refugee camp. This Israeli state terrorism must STOP, unconditional support for Israel must STOP”she wrote on Twitter.
Israeli occupation killed Aljazeera journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh by shooting her in the face while wearing the Press vest and a helmet. She was covering their attack in Jenin refugee camp. This state sponsored Israeli terrorism must STOP, unconditional support to Israel must END. pic.twitter.com/Zg5QZkJ2bx
— Lolwah Alkhater (@Lolwah_Alkhater) May 11, 2022
Strong emotion in the Arab world
The announcement of the death of the star journalist of Al Jazeera has aroused great emotion in the Palestinian Territories and in the Arab world where his reports have been followed for more than two decades, in Europe and in the United States.
On Wednesday, the League of Arab States also held the Jewish state responsible for this “heinous crime which calls for international responsibility and the prosecution of its perpetrators before the competent international judicial authorities”insisting that it is a “war crime and a serious violation of international law”.
The Iranian president also offered his condolences to his family, and blamed Israel. “We are certain that these crimes cannot bring security to the Zionist regime. On the contrary, they will only increase popular anger” to Israel, he said.
Calls for a transparent investigation have multiplied around the world following the journalist’s death.
(with AFP)