The International Commission of Jurists strongly condemns the killing of Al Jazeera veteran correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, who according to witness testimonies was shot dead by Israeli forces on 11 May 2022 while covering Israeli incursions in Jenin, West Bank.
هذا البيان متوفر باللغة العربية أيضاً
Israel has an obligation to respect and protect the freedom of the press and the right to life of journalists. This obligation notwithstanding, the death of Ms Abu Akleh appears to be the consequence of an escalation in the arbitrary and unlawful use of lethal force by Israeli forces in the West Bank. As of May 2022, at least 50 Palestinians have been killed during operations conducted by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
Under international human rights law and standards, the Israeli authorities must promptly, independently, impartially and thoroughly investigate all uses of force resulting in a potentially unlawful death or serious injury.
“Israeli security forces are killing the messengers, the ones documenting and exposing the crimes and abuses of 55 years of military occupation,” said Said Benarbia, the ICJ MENA Programme Director. “The shooting and killing of Ms Abu Akleh cannot go uninvestigated. The truth about it must be fully established, justice must be achieved and perpetrators must be held to account.”
Contact
Said Benarbia, Director, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme; t: +41 22 979 3817, e: said.benarbia(a)icj.org
Asser Khattab, Research and Communications Officer, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme; e: Asser.Khattab(a)icj.org