Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh Killed By, What Is Believed to Be, Israeli Defense Forces—Her Funeral Attacked by Israeli Police

5/18/22-Written by SJ

Shireen Abu Akleh, the Palestinian-American  journalist who’d become a household name after covering the conflict in the Middle East for the past 25 years with Al Jazeera, was killed by Israeli forces last Wednesday, according to many outlets.

She was shot in the head in a manner described by the President of the State of Palestine and the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, as, “executing” her.

Early on May 11, while reporting from Jenin Camp in the West Bank, 51 year old Abu Akleh was fatally shot in the head—in one of the only unprotected parts of her body. She was wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest marked clearly with the word PRESS. The bullet hit her just below where her helmet sat. 

A second Al Jazeera journalist, Ali al-Samoudi, was also struck with a bullet. He was taken to the hospital, with a bullet wound in his back, and is now in stable condition. 

Israel has since alledged Abu Akleh was killed by Palestinian cross fire. Witnesses, on the other hand, claim Israeli Defense Forces were to blame. The Palestinian Health Ministry agrees with witness claims. 

Al Jazeera Media Network released a statement condemning the “blatant murder, violating international laws and norm.” The Qatar-based outlet’s release continued, stating that Abu Akleh was “assassinated in cold blood.”

Naftali Bennett, the Prime Minister of Israel, who was not at Jenin Camp when Abu Akleh was shot, disagrees with witness accounts, stating “According to the information in our hands right now, there is a good chance that armed Palestinians, firing wildly, brought about the tragic death of the journalist.”

Mourners came out by the thousands to pay their respects to Abu Akleh during her Catholic funeral on Friday. However, the funeral procession, which was on foot, hadn’t gotten far before Israeli police began attacking those gathered in the streets, ripping Palestinian flags away from the grief-stricken community and beating people.

The Israeli police even attacked those carrying Abu Akleh’s coffin. Her coffin was almost dropped more than once on account of their assaults. The hearse transporting her coffin was also accosted and damaged by police, in order to remove Palestinian flags from inside the vehicle. 

Numerous independent probes have been launched in an attempt to investigate Abu Akleh’s killing. 

Abu Akleh is not the first journalist to die at, what is believed to be, the hands of Israeli forces. The Palestinian Ministry of Information estimates more than 45 journalists have been killed by Israeli Defense Forces since 2000. Many organizations believe that number to be much higher. The Palestinian Journalist’s Union, for instance, believes the number of deaths is closer to 55. 

In the past 4 years alone, Reporters Without Borders has counted upwards of 144 injured journalists.

“I chose to become a journalist to be close to people. It may not be easy to change reality, but I was at least able to bring their voice to the world.” -Shireen Abu Akleh, 1971-2022