Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera will refer reporter’s murder to International Criminal Court | World News

Qatar’s Al Jazeera news network says it will refer its murder of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the International Criminal Court.

Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American reporter for the network, was shot dead during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank on May 11.

Al Jazeera said the submission to the court would also include Israel’s bombing and destruction of its office in Gaza last May, as well as “constant attacks and incitements” against activists. their newspapers in the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to Article 8 of the Charter of the International Criminal Court, targeting war correspondents, or journalists working in a war zone or occupied territory by killing or executing killing them is a war crime”.

“The Al Jazeera media network condemns the killing of our colleague Shireen Abu Akleh, who worked with the network for 25 years as a professional journalist covering the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. occupied Palestinian territories.

“The network vowed to follow all avenues to achieve justice for Shireen, and ensure those responsible for her murder are brought to justice and held accountable to all legal and judicial platforms.” international law and courts.”

It comes as the Palestinian Authority said its investigation found Ms. Abu Akleh was intentionally shot by an Israeli soldier, a claim Israel denies.

The Israeli military earlier said the 51-year-old woman, wearing a press vest that clearly identified her as a journalist, may have been accidentally shot by one of its soldiers or a Palestinian militant.

However, Palestinian Justice Minister Akram al Khatib said no militants were close to Ms Abu Akleh when she died, adding: “The only source of fire in that place came from the occupying forces with intent killing.”

Al Khatib said the fatal bullet was fired from a semi-automatic rifle used by the Israeli military, but Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz wrote on Twitter: “Any claim that the Defense Force is a member of the Defense Forces.” Israel’s defense of intentionally harming journalists or civilians left unaddressed is a blatant lie. “

He called on Palestinian officials to cooperate with Israel in the investigation by dropping the bullet so that tests could be carried out to see if it matched an Israeli military gun.

Palestinian officials refused, saying they did not trust Israel.

“I continue to call on the Palestinian Authority to hand over the bullet and the finds,” Mr. Gantz said.

“We are prepared and ready to conduct an investigation with the cooperation of international parties.”