UPDATED: Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera journalist shot dead in West Bank

UPDATED: Includes the latest video report from Al Jazeera English, as well as an item on the number of journalists killed by Israel

#AJE #shireernabuakleh #israel

Israeli forces shot the Palestinian reporter in the head while she was on assignment in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. العربية والإنجليزية

Photo: Procession through the streets of Jenin. The Press Jacket she was wearing when she was murdered can be seen on top.

يرجى الاطلاع أدناه للحصول على التغطية العربية الأصلية من الجزيرة

11 May 2022 | James Porteous | Clipper Media News

Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera journalist shot dead in West Bank

Shireen Abu Akleh was covering Israeli raids on the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank [File: Al Jazeera]

11 May 2022 | Al Jazeera English

Israeli forces have shot dead Al Jazeera’s journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

She was hit by a live bullet on Wednesday while covering Israeli raids in the city of Jenin and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to the ministry and Al Jazeera journalists.

She was declared dead at the hospital, the ministry said.

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.

Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera journalist
Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera journalist

“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.

Israeli fire blamed for most journalists killed since 1992. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the most dangerous for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists estimates 18 have been killed since 1992. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate estimates the figure is three times higher, blaming Israeli fire for most casualties. And it says it documents 500 to 700 attacks a year by Israeli forces on journalists covering the occupation.

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.

Shireen Abu Aqleh was wearing a press flak jacket, visibly marked, when she was shot, Qatar said

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”.

Shireen Abu Akleh: A trailblazer who gave voice to Palestinians

Al Jazeera’s Shireen Abu Akleh was a brave and kind journalist with an infectious laugh who was devoted to telling stories about ordinary Palestinians.

The Guardian Coverage:

The once-respectable UK newspaper, The Guardian, finally updated its coverage of this story. For many hours they retained their narrative on the right, noting the Israeli ‘version,’ before finally editing it to suggest that Israel appeared to be ‘backing away’ from the Israeli version.

The original story in the Guardian
The partially updated version was edited some seven hours later.

But the headline remained the same throughout the day, its dismissive notation that ‘Al Jazeera ‘accuses’ Israel while almost every other respectable publication made a statement of fact.


“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.

Those who knew her described her as brave, kind and a voice of the Palestinians.

An injured journalist is being hugged by one of the colleagues of killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist for the Al-Jazeera network, in the Hospital West Bank town of Jenin, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. The well-known Palestinian reporter for the broadcaster’s Arabic language channel was shot and killed while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank town of Jenin early Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry said. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

“Shireen was a brave, kind and high integrity journalist that I and millions of Palestinians grew up watching,” wrote Fadi Quran, an activist at the campaign group, Avaaz.

“Horrified to hear of Israel’s killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin! Shireen has boldly covered Israel’s aggression in Palestine for over two decades,” wrote Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American activist and lawyer.

Original breaking coverage on AJE

“In disbelief,” wrote Salem Barahmeh, a Palestinian activist. “We grew up to her reporting on the second intifada. She was our voice. Rest in power and peace. Another day, another tragedy.”

Giles Trendle, Al Jazeera’s managing director, said that the network was “shocked and saddened” by the death of Shireen Abu Akleh.

“We have had a history throughout the world but particularly in this region, where we have had tragedies,” he said, calling for a transparent investigation to the killing of Abu Akleh.

Al Jazeera’s offices in the Gaza Strip, which also housed the Associated Press, were bombed by Israeli forces during an offensive a year ago.

“As journalists, we carry on. Our mission is to carry on. We will not be silenced despite attempts to silence us,” said Trendle. “Our mission is always to carry on to inform the world what is happening. And that is more important ever.”

Continuing coverage on AJE and AJA

Continuing coverage on AJE and AJA

Al Jazeera condemns Israel’s killing of Shireen Abu Akleh

Qatar-based media network says it holds Israel responsible for killing ‘in cold blood’ its veteran correspondent in occupied West Bank

Below is Al Jazeera Media Network’s statement on the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh:

In a blatant murder, violating international laws and norms, the Israeli occupation forces assassinated in cold blood Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Palestine, Shireen Abu Akleh, targeting her with live fire early this morning, Wednesday, May 11, 2022, while conducting her journalistic duty, clearly wearing a press jacket that identifies her a journalist, covering the Israeli occupation forces storming of Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.

Al Jazeera Media Network condemns this heinous crime, which intends to only prevent the media from conducting their duty. 

Al Jazeera holds the Israeli government and the occupation forces responsible for the killing of Shireen. It also calls on the international community to condemn and hold the Israeli occupation forces accountable for their intentional targeting and killing of Shireen.

The Israeli authorities are also responsible for the targeting of Al Jazeera producer Ali al-Samudi, who was also shot in the back while covering the same event, and he is currently undergoing treatment


استشهاد مراسلة الجزيرة شيرين أبو عاقلة برصاص جيش الاحتلال خلال تغطيتها لاقتحامه مخيم جني

وقد أصيب في الاعتداء منتج الجزيرة علي السمودي حيث كان إلى جانب الراحلة شيرين في تغطية اقتحام الاحتلال لمدينة جنين صباح اليوم.

 وقالت الشبكة “نحمل السلطات الإسرائيلية مسؤولية سلامة منتج الجزيرة علي السمودي الذي استهدف مع الزميلة شيرين بإطلاق النار عليه في الظهر أثناء التغطية وهو يخضع للعلاج”.

وفي وقت سابق، أعلنت وزارة الصحة الفلسطينية، اليوم الأربعاء، استشهاد الزميلة الصحفية شيرين أبو عاقلة برصاص الجيش الإسرائيلي، شمالي الضفة الغربية.

وقالت الوزارة، في تصريح مقتضب “استشهاد الصحفية شيرين أبو عاقلة مراسلة قناة الجزيرة القطرية، جراء إصابتها برصاص الجيش الإسرائيلي في مدينة جنين”.

أبوعاقلة التحقت بالجزيرة عام 1997 (الجزيرة) (Abu Aqla joined Al Jazeera in 1997 (Al Jazeera)

استشهدت صباح اليوم الأربعاء مراسلة الجزيرة الزميلة شيرين أبوعاقلة عندما أطلق عليها جنود الاحتلال الإسرائيلي الرصاص الحي أثناء تغطيها لاقتحام الاحتلال مدينة جنين بالضفة الغربية المحتلة.

وجاء في بيان لشبكة الجزيرة الإعلامية “في جريمة قتل مفجعة تخرق القوانين والأعراف الدولية أقدمت قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي وبدم بارد على اغتيال مراسلتنا شيرين أبو عاقلة”.

ودانت الشبكة “هذه الجريمة البشعة التي يراد من خلالها منع الإعلام من أداء رسالته” وأضافت “نحمل الحكومة الإسرائيلية وقوات الاحتلال مسؤولية مقتل الزميلة الراحلة شيرين”.

وطالبت شبكة الجزيرة الإعلامية  المجتمع الدولي بإدانة ومحاسبة قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي لتعمدها استهداف وقتل الزميلة شيرين أبو عاقلة.

شار إلى أن شيرين أبوعاقلة من الرعيل الأول من المراسلين الميدانيين لقناة الجزيرة. حيث التحقت بالقناة عام 1997، أي بعد عام من انطلاقها

وقبل الالتحاق بالجزيرة عملت أبوعاقلة في إذاعة فلسطين وقناة عمان الفضائية.

وطيلة ربع قرن كانت أبوعاقلة في قلب الخطر لتغطية حروب وهجمات واعتداءات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي على الشعب الفلسطيني في الأراضي المحتلة.

وولدت شيرين أبوعاقلة عام 1971 في مدينة القدس المحتلة. وهي حاصلة على درجة البكالوريوس في الصحافة والإعلام من جامعة اليرموك بالمملكة الأردنية الهاشمية.

وفي حديث سابق للجزيرة تقول أبوعاقلة إن الاحتلال الإسرائيلي دائما ما يتهمها بتصوير مناطق أمنية، وتوضح أنها كانت دائما تشعر بأنها مستهدفة وأنها في مواجهة كل من جيش الاحتلال والمستوطنين المسلحين

وتروي أبوعاقلة أن من أكثر اللحظات التي أثرت فيها هي زيارة سجن عسقلان والاطلاع على أوضاع أسرى فلسطينيين بعضهم قضى أزيد من 20 عاما خلف القضبان، حيث نقلت عبر الجزيرة معاناتهم لذويهم وللعالم.

المصدر : الجزيرة

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