The Death of Shireen Abu Akleh Raises Important Questions about the Safety of Journalists
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Al Jazeera journalist was killed on May 11 in the West Bank city of Jenin by Israeli forces according to the United Nations.
“All information we have gathered … is consistent with the finding that the shots that killed Abu Akleh and injured her colleague Ali Sammoudi came from Israeli security forces and not from indiscriminate firing by armed Palestinians,” UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva on June 24th.
Journalist thought they were safe while covering the ongoing situation in the West Bank. Suddenly, shots were heard. Not even the determined effort to stay visible as members of the press could deter the bullet that hit Shireen Abu Akleh.
Her killing could not be silenced, as thousands of people around the world made sure that their outrage would be heard. Nevertheless, the attacks did not stop, as the Israeli police continued to assault the pallbearers at her funeral.
Israel has yet to say if anyone will face charges for the killing. They have denied that she was deliberately targeted and say that she may have been hit by accident.
U.S. security officials had “concluded that gunfire from IDF (Israel Defense Forces) positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. The U.S. also “found no reason to believe that this was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against factions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad”.
The 51-year-old Palestinian-American journalist was one of the region’s most experienced and admired correspondents. Now, her death will be remembered together with the many other unfortunate deaths of journalists, who died while covering the field or as a result of strained political situations.
It is therefore important to have conversations about the safety of journalists and how such issues can be tackled. One such tool that will be coming soon on the market is Reporters. An app that will serve as a safe platform for journalists to share crucial information with each other: information that could save lives.
