The Voice of Journalism Silenced by Israel’s Crimes

The hot lead pierced the head of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh while she was on duty to cover the Israeli attack on the West Bank city of Jenin. The Palestinian-American journalist was rushed to hospital in Jenin in critical condition, where she was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to the hospital at around 07:15 (4:15 GMT).

Abu Aqleh was wearing a press vest and standing with other journalists when she was shot in the head. But unlucky, this senior journalist died at the hands of the Israeli zionists who will not spare their bullets for anyone who is pro-Palestinian. For Israel, all those who help Palestine are a threat to their occupation, not even boys, girls and children.

Another Al Jazeera journalist, Ali al-Samoudi was also injured, his back hit by an Israeli bullet at the scene. But he survived, his condition is currently still in a stable condition.

Chronology of events

Al-Samoudi and other journalists said that at the scene, there were no Palestinian soldiers present when the journalists were shot, the journalists directly denied Israel’s statement that it was possible that the shot that hit Abu Aqleh came from Palestinian fire.

“We were covering an Israeli army operation and suddenly they shot us without asking us to leave or stop filming,” al-Samoudi said.

“The first bullet hit me and the second hit Shireen, there was no Palestinian military resistance at all at the scene.” he continued

A local journalist who was standing beside Abu Aqleh when she was shot, Shatha Hanaysha, said that there was no confrontation between Palestinian soldiers and Israeli soldiers. She said groups of journalists had been the direct targets.

“There were four reporters, and we all wear a vest, all wearing helmets,” said Hanaysha. “The army of occupation [Israel] did not cease firing even after she fainted. I couldn’t even reach out to pull it because of the shots it fired. The army insists shoot to kill, “said Hanaysha.

Abu Aqleh work colleagues at Al Jazeera, Nida murder Shireen Ibrahim said details still appear but the video incident showed that she was shot in the head.

“What we know now is that the Palestinian health ministry has announced his death. Shireen Abu Aqleh was covering events that took place in Jenin, in particular, the Israeli attack on the town, which lies in the northern West Bank, when he was hit by a bullet in the head, “said Ibrahim.

In his last email to the office of Al Jazeera, Abu Akleh send a message to Al Jazeera’s Ramallah bureau at 6:13 pm local time in which he wrote: “The occupation forces invaded Jenin and surrounded a house in the neighborhood Jabriyat. On the way there – I’ll bring you the news as soon as the picture becomes clear. ”

But the message no one thought became the last message to him and others.

Cries and Grief

Sadness meet Al Jazeera office in downtown Ramallah when news of the shooting of the journalist, had spread quickly and dozens of fellow journalists, friends, and Palestinian leaders to arrive, including Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi and Khalida Jarrar.

Palestinian lawmaker Khalida Jarrar said that Abu Akleh is the voice of the Palestinian people and killed by the “crimes of colonialism and the Israeli occupation”.

“Shireen has always been my voice from a prison cell,” said Jarrar, adding that after the arrest last month by Israel, Shireen was the first person he saw in the trial.

“Shireen is our voice. It is unbelievable. This is a crime, everything is clear – the deliberate and direct targeting. She became a target. It is clear, “said Jarrar.

Palestinian presidency condemned the killing, saying in a statement that it considers the Israeli occupation is responsible.

Spokesman for the Palestinian Authority (PA) Ibrahim Melhem described it as “a comprehensive crime committed against a well-known journalist”.

“The murder was intentional … There will be an autopsy by Palestinian medics, which will be followed by a report including all the details of the murder,” said Melhem.

However, all the witnesses present at the scene to make sure that the Israeli sniper who did the killing.

One former colleague Abu Aqleh, Mohammad Hawwash, who knew her for more than 25 years, said that she is “true journalists”.

“Shireen is a professional and impartial journalists who convey the reality and what the event is,” Hawwash, 70.

Palestine TV correspondent Christine Rinawi, often with Abu Akleh on the ground in Jerusalem, said the late reporter it was “a professor in journalism.”

“We’d meet for hours in the field, we will be caught together, we hurt together. Shireen is the message throughout his journalistic life, and even in her martyrdom, she is a message, “said Rinawi.

“This is a sad day, a day of darkness. There are no words to describe the pain that we all experience, “she added.

To note, the Al Jazeera office in the Gaza Strip, which also houses the Associated Press, also by Israeli forces bombed a year ago, and Palestinian journalists and international journalists say they regularly have been subjected to shelling of Israeli forces in the West Bank.

Many people in Palestine and abroad fell voiced his voice through social media to express their shock and sadness.

“The Israeli occupation forces killed our beloved journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh while covering their brutality in Jenin this morning. Shireen is the most prominent Palestinian journalist and close friend, “Husam Zomlot cuit, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK. (T/RE1)

Source: KBK News

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)