Israel has been committing crimes against humanity with impunity. The Israeli occupation forces are not only killing innocent Palestinians but also try to silence the voices of journalists who expose their atrocities.
On the first anniversary of the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Al Jazeera Media Network has called for justice to be served and more protection of journalists as the news network on Thursday marked the first anniversary of the tragic killing of Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces while she was reporting from Jenin in Palestine.
Shireen, known as ‘the voice of Palestinians’, was targeted despite clearly identifying as a member of the press with her vest and helmet.
On the one-year anniversary of Shireen’s killing, the Network paid tribute to her memory and contribution to journalism through an International Day of Action. Her colleagues, along with other journalists and human rights activists, held vigils and solidarity stands in key capitals.
According to an article published in Washington Post, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists focused on the cases of 20 reporters whose deaths it attributed to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since 2001. The group found systemic similarities in Israel’s response, including the most fundamental one: No one has been charged or held accountable in any of them.
The report said Israel responded to the incidents with variations on a standard playbook, including preemptive denials of responsibility, discounting contrary evidence and witness testimony, and opaque internal investigations that never led to charges — even when it did produce statements of possible culpability, as happened in the case of Abu Akleh, a veteran Al Jazeera correspondent.
The report’s authors looked at more than two dozen cases of journalists killed while reporting in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in recent decades, reviewing press coverage and interviewing witnesses and families. They eliminated those clearly killed by Palestinian gunmen or explosive devises, focusing on deaths attributable to IDF fire.
Al Jazeera Media Network also held a panel conversation at its headquarters in Doha. The Network lamented the lack of accountability of perpetrators.
The time has come that the international community, particularly global rights organisations, should raise a strong voice on Israel’s grave violations of human rights against innocent citizens of Palestine and journalists.
