Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Gaza journalists mourn the killing of ‘friend’ Shireen Abu Akleh

Gaza journalists mourn the killing of ‘friend’ Shireen Abu Akleh

Journalists and people in Gaza Strip pay tribute to the Al Jazeera journalist who was killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

Dozens of journalists and representatives of media organisations in Gaza city have come together to condemn the killing of veteran Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

A vigil was organised on Wednesday in solidarity with the slain journalist at the site of Al Jazeera office building, which was bombed to rubble by Israel last May. People gathered to honour the longtime TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic in front of Al-Mathaf Hotel, as banners were raised denouncing the crime of the Israeli occupation.

Palestinian Journalists’ Union organised another protest in front of the Al Jazeera bureau in the centre of the besieged Gaza City.

The killing of colleague Abu Akleh is “a deliberate execution by the Israeli occupation”, Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, Hisham Zaqout said, adding that Abu Akleh was a witness to many of the Israeli occupation’s crimes, and now she is a new victim to be added to its criminal record.

“We affirm as Palestinian journalists that this crime will not affect our will, the occupation will not be able to prevent us from covering the truth, and our coverage will continue,” he said.


Tayseer Muhaisen, the adviser of the Government Information Office in Gaza, said the crime of Abu Akleh’s killing is not the first against Palestinian journalists and will not be the last, adding that Israeli occupation deliberately “obliterates the truth and kills the image that exposes its crimes”.

Muhaisen said since the beginning of this year, his office has documented more than 290 targeting and violations against Palestinian journalists, 51 of which have been targeted directly.

Since 2000, Israel has killed 49 Palestinian journalists, the last of whom was Al Jazeera’s Shireen Abu Akleh, according to the Palestinian Journalists’ Support Committee.

“This crime is deliberate as our colleague Shireen was wearing the press vest, and she is known to the whole world and to the Israeli soldiers,” said Muhaisen speaking a the sit-in in front of Al-Mathaf Hotel.

At the Al Jazeera office in Gaza, a state of deep sadness prevailed. Heba Akila, the Al Jazeera correspondent, mourned her colleague and friend Shireen Abu Akleh.

“This incident shook the entire Gaza Strip and all across the Palestinian territories,” she told Al Jazeera with tearful eyes. “Feelings of pain and sadness swept everyone who talks today about Shireen.”

Akila reiterated that every Palestinian is targeted by Israeli forces, but Shireen, who used to abide by all required safety procedures for journalists, also came under attack.

A vigil was organised in solidarity with Akleh


“We lost Shireen today, but we do not know until when the crimes of the Israeli occupation will continue to kill the truth and target the Palestinian journalist?” Akila said.

The killing of Abu Akleh, who was a household name across the Arab world for her bold coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has sparked international condemnation, with Qatar-based Al Jazeera Network saying she was “assassinated in cold blood”.

Thousands of people have gathered in Ramallah, the main city in the occupied West Bank, to pay tribute to the slain journalist, who has been described by colleagues and friends as a brave and kind reporter who gave voice to the Palestinian people.

Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the Journalists’ Unions and the Government Information Office have issued statements of condemnation and called to punish the Israeli occupation for its crimes.

The US Department of State has called for an “immediate and thorough” investigation into her killing.

Palestinians from all walks of life came to the Al Jazeera bureau in Gaza to offer condolences

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
The Saudi Kingdom's Ultimatum to Israel: A Win-Win Peace with Saudi Arabia and the Arab World, or a Lose-Lose Continued Occupation and Endless Conflict
Biden condemns anti-Arab hate after WSJ opinion piece calls Dearborn ‘jihad capital’
Turkey Releases Seven Hostages Captured by Pro-Gaza Gunman
Arab Parliament Commends Women's Contributions to Societal Development
British and Hungarian Foreign Ministers visited Lebanese leaders to stress the importance of enacting UN Resolution 1701
Yemen's Houthis Say They Targeted British Merchant Vessel In Red Sea
Donald Trump Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for 'Historic' Middle East Policy
US lawmakers approve F-16 jet sale to Turkey following NATO expansion support
Saudi Arabia Climbs 25 Places in World Bank's National Statistics Indicator
Tourism Growth in Saudi Arabia Fuels Advancements in the Hospitality Industry," Says Rotana Official
Houthi Rebels Request Departure of UN Staff from Yemen, Including US and UK Personnel, within a Month
Modi Inaugurates Hindu Temple on Site of Demolished Mosque in India
Over 25,000 Deaths in Gaza Amid Israeli Offensive
Escalating Clashes in Gaza as Israel Distributes Leaflets to Assist in Locating Hostages
Turkey's First Astronaut Set to Launch for International Space Station Today
Head of Palestinian Investment Fund Warns More People May Die of Hunger Than War in Gaza
Palestinian Envoy Criticizes UK for Alleged 'Double Standards' in Policies Toward Israel
Morocco to Lead UN Human Rights Council in 2024
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Egypt has been identified as the leading military force among Arab nations and ranks 15th globally
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Iranian Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Receives Additional Prison Sentence
"Gazans Urge Israeli Forces to Target Hamas in Leaked Audio"
Biden States US and UK Airstrikes on Houthis Were a 'Defensive Action
Large Pro-Palestine Rally in London as Gaza Conflict Hits Day 100
South Africa Urges World Court to Halt Israeli Actions in Gaza
×