Mourning the death of Al Jazeera reporter Shirin Abu Akleh soon shifts to anger. While people grieve this killing, a symbol for many in journalism, officials respond. Palestine holds Israel entirely responsible for Abu Akleh’s death, a stance voiced by the Palestinian president, Mahmud Abbas. In turn, the United Nations condemned the act and urged an independent investigation. The Israeli army has increasingly moved away from its initial claim that only armed Palestinians were involved.
“We reject any joint inquiry with the Israeli authorities because they committed the crime. We do not trust them,” Abbas stated at an official Ramallah ceremony honoring the reporter. Abbas pledged to bring the case to court, including the International Criminal Court. Hussein al-Sheikh, a Palestinian Authority official, announced that the PA declined to hand over the bullet that killed Sirin to Israel and would oversee an independent inquiry. “All signs and witnesses confirm the murder was carried out by Israeli special units,” he tweeted. [UN]
#Israel the journalist had requested a joint investigation to obtain the bullet that killed Shirin, a request the PA refused, affirming that the inquiry would be conducted independently. https://t.co/CqOiDzxlRd
— Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) 12 May 2022
The UN swiftly condemned the attack and called for an emergency response. Tor Wennesland, the Middle East envoy, urged an immediate and thorough investigation, emphasizing that media workers must be protected. Abu Akleh wore a helmet and a bulletproof vest, identifying herself as press. The bullet that ended her life pierced the sole unprotected area, in her neck. Her partner Shatha Hanaysha of Middle East Eye described it as a deliberate attempt to kill, not a moment of crossfire. [UN]
Attack on freedom of the press
The Al Jazeera team from the outset pointed to the Israeli army. “It was an Israeli sniper hit, not crossfire with Palestinian fighters as the Israeli military claims,” Hanaysha explained. With growing international pressure, Israel has clarified its version, though the question remains whether Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli fire or by Palestinian fire.
Calls for an immediate, thorough investigation and full accountability grew louder. Attacks on independent media must be investigated and those responsible held to account. [White House]
The White House press secretary described the incident as an attack on press freedom and urged a prompt, thorough investigation and full accountability. Abu Akleh was a U.S. citizen with strong ties to the global journalism community. [White House]
journalism icon
“I remember seeing Shirin on TV when I was ten,” reflects a Beirut-based journalist. “We were stunned by the news. How can such violence persist without consequences?” The community mourned at the Palestinian Authority headquarters, a moment that underscored the loss felt by many who saw Abu Akleh as a trusted source of information. Her colleagues note that she always kept the public informed and was a steady voice in a turbulent region.
In Jerusalem, a longtime local journalist who left architecture to pursue reporting recalls Abu Akleh as a familiar figure on screens for decades. Across households in the occupied territories, her voice was a constant. A younger generation of female journalists has drawn inspiration from her work. They remember that her dedication continues to guide their own reporting. The sense remains that her life endures through the stories she helped tell.
There have been calls highlighting the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones and the need to protect reporters who cover the occupied territories. The tragedy is seen as a stark reminder of the risks borne by those who document violations and bear witness to unfolding events. Her memory continues to motivate the press to pursue truth and accountability. [Journalist Community]