OIC, Arab League condemn Israeli forces’ assassination of Palestinian journalist, EU demands independent probe

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League have denounced in the strongest terms the targeted killing of a veteran Palestinian journalist by Israeli forces as she was covering an army raid in the occupied West Bank, with the European Union demanding a swift and independent investigation into the assassination.

The OIC said in a statement that the crime constitutes a blatant violation of international law and principles, and requires an immediate investigation and prosecution of all those responsible.

The intergovernmental organization stressed that the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist for the Arabic-language and Qatar-based Al Jazeera television news network, as she was reporting facts and documenting Israeli crimes against Palestinians, came within the context of the Tel Aviv regime’s frequent violations of freedom of the media, and its policy of blocking truth, muzzling the press, covering up its daily acts of aggression and withholding information from the world public opinion.

The OIC then held Israel fully responsible for the heinous crime, calling on relevant international institutions to take immediate actions to ensure justice and provide the necessary protection for journalists and media professionals working in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Arab League censures killing of Abu Akleh

The Arab League also vehemently condemned the killing of the Palestinian journalist, saying, "Such heinous crimes are meant to suppress truth and freedom."

It also held Israeli forces fully responsible for Abu Akleh's death, and underlined the need for an international investigation into killing of the Palestinian journalist.

"Urgent actions must be taken to hold those responsible for the journalist’s killing to account," the Arab League’s statement read.

European Union calls for ‘swift, independent investigation’

Meanwhile, the European Union has expressed “shock” over the killing of the prominent Palestinian reporter, and called for a swift and independent investigation into her death.

“We express our deepest condolences to her family and call for a swift and independent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Imperative to ensure the safety and protection of journalists covering conflicts,” it said in a statement.

UN demands probe into Abu Akleh’s killing

The UN human rights office has also said it was “appalled” at the killing of Abu Akleh and demanded a transparent investigation into her death.

“We are appalled at the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while covering an Israeli military operation in Jenin, Palestine,” the UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet’s office said on Twitter, adding: “We urge an independent, transparent investigation into her killing. Impunity must end.”

Journalists gather in Beirut to pay tribute to Abu Akleh

Dozens of journalists and media workers from Lebanon’s Alternative Syndicate of the Press gathered in downtown Beirut to honor Abu Akleh.

 “The legacy Shireen left us is hundreds of hours of reporting that documented the crimes of the Israeli occupation,” Moufarrej told Al Jazeera.

The syndicate described Abu Akleh as an “icon” who has left a lasting impact on Palestinians and journalists everywhere, calling for an international investigation into her killing.

“The legacy Shireen left us is hundreds of hours of reporting that documented the crimes of the Israeli occupation,” the syndicate’s coordinator Elsy Moufarrej said.

Abu Akleh’s killing ‘constitutes grave breach’ of Geneva Conventions: RSF

Christophe Deloire, Secretary General and Director General of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), wrote on Twitter that the killing of Abu Akleh “constitutes a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions that mandate the protection of civilians, and of UN Security Council resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists.”

Deloire also called for an independent international investigation into the circumstances of the journalist’s death.

Abu Akleh was hit by a live bullet while covering an Israeli raid in the city of Jenin and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to the Palestinian health ministry and her colleagues.

The Palestinian journalist was wearing a press vest when she was killed.

Ali Samoudi, another Palestinian journalist for Al Jazeera channel, was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in the back.

In video footage of the incident, Abu Akleh can be seen wearing a blue flak jacket clearly marked with the word “PRESS.”

Samoudi told The Associated Press they were among a group of seven reporters who went to cover the raid early Wednesday.

He said they were all wearing protective gear that clearly marked them as reporters, and they passed by Israeli troops so the soldiers would see them and know that they were there.

He said the first shot missed them, then a second struck him, and a third killed Abu Akleh. He said there were no combatants or other civilians in the area — only the reporters and Israeli army troops.

Shaza Hanaysheh, a reporter with a Palestinian news website who was also among the reporters, gave a similar account, stressing there were no clashes or shooting in the immediate area.

She said that when the shots rang out she and Abu Akleh ran toward a tree to take shelter.

“I reached the tree before Shireen. She fell on the ground,” Hanaysheh said. “The soldiers did not stop shooting even after she fell. Every time I extended my hand to pull Shireen, the soldiers fired at us.”

The Palestinian Ministry of Information condemned what it said was a “shocking crime” committed by Israeli forces.

“The Israeli occupation has repeatedly targeted, injured and assaulted Palestinian journalists. Shireen joins other journalists that Israel killed as they worked on revealing the crimes of the Israeli occupation. The killing can never deter our people from continuing the struggle for freedom, will only shorten the life of the occupying regime and will bring us closer to freedom and an end to Israeli impunity,” it said.

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