Israeli Military Kills Journalist by Live Bullet: Report
Citing Palestinian health ministry, the Agency noted that she was shot by a “live bullet” while covering Israeli raids in Jenin.
She was declared dead at a local hospital.
The circumstances of her death were not clear, but videos of the incident show that Abu Akleh was shot in the head, said Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim.
“What we know for now is that the Palestinian Health Ministry has announced her death. Shireen Abu Akleh, was covering the events unfolding in Jenin, specifically an Israeli raid the city, which is north of the occupied West Bank, when she was hit by a bullet to the head,” Ibrahim said, speaking from the Palestinian city of Ramallah.
“As you can imagine, this is a shock to the journalists who have been working with her.”
Speaking through tears, Ibrahim said Abu Akleh was a “very well respected journalist” who has been working with Al Jazeera since the beginning of the second Palestinian Intifada in 2000.
Abu Akleh was wearing a press vest when she was killed.
Another Palestinian journalist was also shot by a live bullet in the back, the health ministry said. Ali Samoudi, who works for the Jerusalem-based Quds newspaper was reported in stable condition.
Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Ramallah, Walid al-Omary, said that there had been no shooting carried out by Palestinian gunmen, disputing an Israeli statement that referenced the possibility.
The Israeli military said that it had come under attack with heavy gunfire and explosives while operating in Jenin, and that they fired back. It added that it was “investigating the event”.
Many in Palestine and abroad took to social media to express their shock and grief.
“Israeli occupation forces assassinated our beloved journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while covering their brutality in Jenin this morning. Shireen was most prominent Palestinian journalist and a close friend,” wrote Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Hamas slams Abu Akleh’s ‘premeditated murder’
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas condemned in the strongest terms what it called the “premeditated murder” of the Palestinian journalist.
It said the world and all international institutions must condemn the heinous crime against the press and free speech and hold the Israeli regime accountable.
This crime will not succeed in preventing the role of the media and free journalists in conveying the truth, the reality of the Israeli occupation, its brutality, terrorism, and crimes against the Palestinian people, land, and holy sites, the Gaza-based resistance group added.
Qatar: Israeli terrorism has to end
Qatar’s deputy foreign minister also condemned the killing by the “Israeli occupation” and called for an end to the “state sponsored Israeli terrorism.”
“Israeli occupation killed Aljazeera journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh by shooting her in the face while wearing the Press vest and a helmet,” Lolwah Alkhater wrote in a tweet.
“She was covering their attack in Jenin refugee camp. This state sponsored Israeli terrorism must STOP, unconditional support to Israel must END,” she added.
Source: Al Jazeera and Agencies
