LThe last message sent by Shireen Abu Akleh to the Ramallah office is this morning, May 11, at 6:13 am (local time): “The occupation forces are assaulting Jenin and besieging a house in the Jabriyat neighborhood. I am on my way there, I will give you news as soon as the picture is clear ».
Two opposite versions of the killing of S.hireen Abu Akleh
He could no longer send S updateshireen Abu Akleh, Palestinian reporter from al Jazeera well known, because she was killed in Jenin, in the West Bank, while covering an operation by the Israeli armed forces. With her there were three other colleagues, all wearing helmets, flak jackets and “press” identification bibs. Everything that could be useful to make them recognizable, to be able to do their job without becoming targets.
The versions of the incident are opposite: the Palestinian National Authority, like Al Jazeera, accuses the military of having “murdered her in cold blood” while Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett denied any responsibility, accusing instead “armed Palestinians who were firing indiscriminately in that moment”.
Who was Shireen Abu Akleh
The 51-year-old Palestinian journalist was a prominent figure in the Arabic service of the Qatar-based broadcaster: born in East Jerusalem, she graduated in journalism in Jordan and in 1997 she started working for al-Jazeera, born only in the year first. For the Qatari broadcaster she covered the Occupied Palestinian Territories, she did it for over 20 years by entering the homes of Arab families with her face on a daily basis. She was with al-Quds colleague Ali al-Samoudi, who was wounded in the back but now in stable condition. According to reporter Shatha Hanaysha, also present in the car, at that time “there were no clashes or shots fired by Palestinians”.
Shireen Abu Akleh with the Old City of Jerusalem in the background. The Al Jazeera journalist was killed during an Israeli military raid in Jenin. EPA / AL JAZEERA HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY / NO SALES
“We all had bulletproof vests and helmets, we were four journalists in an exposed area, ”Hanaysha said. The Israeli army was “determined to shoot to kill”, “it didn’t stop shooting even after she collapsed, I couldn’t even reach out to her because of the gunshots.”
“They shot her in the face”
According to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Qatar, Lolwah Al Khater, in Shireen Abu Aqleh they “Shot in the face” despite wearing a vest with the words “press” and a very recognizable helmet, as he wrote on Twitter.
Counter-terrorism operations continue
What happened, the Israeli premier explained, will not stop “the counter-terrorism operations of the armed forces, with the aim of putting an end to the wave of terrorism and restoring the security of the citizens of Israel”. There has been a series of attacks in Israel in recent weeks and in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank cost the lives of 21 Israelis. The armed forces have stepped up operationsfocusing in particular on Jenin, which has always been one of the strongest strongholds of Palestinian resistance.
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