Press Release: Al Jazeera Journalist killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories This Morning
Press Release: Al Jazeera Journalist killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories this morning, as ICJP submits complaint to the ICC demanding an investigation into the systematic targeting of journalists by Israel.
‘I chose journalism to be close to humans. It’s probably not easy to change reality but at least I have been able to convey the voice of reality to the world.’
– Shireen Abu Akleh
Wednesday 11 May 2022, a heart wrenching morning for the Palestinian people everywhere as Israeli occupying forces shot and killed Shireen Abu Akleh (51), according to the Palestinian President. A prominent and courageous Palestinian journalist for Al Jazeera, Abu Akleh, was covering the Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin when Israeli forces allegedly shot her in the head despite the fact that she was wearing a vest clearly marked with the word “PRESS”.
Additionally, Ali Samodi (55), a reporter for Al-Quds newspaper, also sustained a gunshot wound to his back whilst also wearing a PRESS vest. He has reportedly been hospitalised and is in a stable condition.
Israeli forces have a track record of employing lethal force and systematically targeting Palestinian journalists with complete lack of accountability.
Action by the international community is essential to end the unlawful killing and wounding of journalists by the Israeli forces.
Shortly after the reported news surfaced, Itamar Ben Gvir, a member of the Israeli Knesset, tweeted in support of Israeli forces crimes against journalists, stating: “When terrorists shoot at our soldiers in Jenin, they must return fire with full force, even if there are ‘journalists’ from Al Jazeera in the area who often deliberately stand in the middle of the battle and disturb the soldiers.”
Recent Supreme Court cases in Israel have confirmed that Israel will disregard their international law obligations where they consider that they conflict with the country’s domestic law. Disrespecting international legal standards is not the hallmark of a democracy. It falls to the international community to ensure that Israel complies with its obligations instead of the current position of permitting it to act with impunity for its criminal acts.
Along with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), ICJP submitted a complaint to the ICC about the targeted killing of journalists on 25 April 2022, and awaits confirmation from the
ICC’s Prosecutor’s Office about the action they intend to take. The killing of Shireen and the shooting of Ali Samoodi bring to sharp focus the need for urgent action by the ICC. ICJP, together with PJS and IFJ will seek to add these cases to the complaint that is already before the ICC.
Tayab Ali, Director at ICJP, stated that “Shireen is not anonymous or a statistic. She was not a terrorist. She was one of us. She dedicated her life to one of the most important principles in a democracy – freedom of speech. As a journalist, Shireen’s work ensured that the world knew what was happening in Palestine. Journalists like Shireen and Ali are crucial in holding governments that violate international law to account. Israel’s belligerent and excessive use of force has led to irreversible damage and the killing of innocent journalists. This can no longer be allowed to continue. The international community’s inaction in the situation in Palestine is tantamount to complicity in violations of international law. We will continue our legal work to reverse Israel’s ongoing impunity.”