All articles tagged with #shireen abu akleh
The piece argues that persistent impunity in Shireen Abu Akleh’s 2022 killing—exacerbated by US inaction and a lack of accountability—has encouraged ongoing Israeli attacks on journalists, with calls for justice and stronger protection for reporters.
The Israel Defense Forces has apologized for the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by a bullet to the back of the head while covering an Israeli military operation in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. This is the first time the IDF has apologized for the killing of the well-known correspondent, after conceding last year that there was a “high possibility” she was shot by an Israeli soldier. The apology comes days after The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) published a report that said it had found no accountability was taken by the Israeli military over its killings of at least 20 journalists over the past two decades.
One year after the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, the FBI investigation into her death has not made much progress, with key witnesses yet to be interviewed. Israel initially blamed Palestinian gunmen but later admitted that it was most likely an Israeli soldier who accidentally fired the fatal shot during a raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. No one in the Israeli army has been prosecuted, and the military has not announced any disciplinary action. Advocates have renewed calls for justice, and Abu Akleh's family is pinning their hopes on the FBI investigation, but Israel has refused to cooperate.
Shireen Abu Akleh, a veteran journalist for Al Jazeera and a trailblazer for female Palestinian journalists, has passed away. She joined Al Jazeera in 1997 and covered significant events in Palestine and the wider region. Her career blazed a trail for many young women aspiring to be journalists.
The death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh a year ago marked the loss of an objective voice of authority who broke the mold in ways relating to politics, gender and religion. For friends and family, the 51-year-old reporter’s death was acutely felt due to her compassion, vivacity and empathy, which has created a void that remains unfilled to this day. For senior Palestinian journalist Mohammed Daraghmeh, the loss of his decades-long friend and colleague hit hard both personally and professionally.