A bunch of activists and journalists held a candlelight vigil Thursday outdoors the White House in Washington, D.C. to honor Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot useless on May 11 final yr whereas reporting on an Israeli navy raid.
The vigil, organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Museum of the Palestinian People, was attended by many activists and Abu Akleh’s associates in addition to colleagues from Al Jazeera, who demanded justice and accountability for her.
Abu Akleh, a senior Al Jazeera journalist extensively revered for her in depth protection of Palestine and Israel, was shot within the head whereas overlaying an Israeli navy raid on the Jenin refugee camp within the West Bank metropolis of Hebron. She was sporting a blue vest marked “PRESS” and a helmet.
Laila Al-Arian, an govt producer at Al Jazeera English, instructed Anadolu in the course of the vigil that it is necessary for anybody who cares about press freedom to “push for justice and accountability” in Abu Akleh’s case.
“It has already been one year since Shireen was shot to death, covering a military raid in Jenin and doing her job. And nobody has been charged. Nobody has been arrested,” she mentioned. “We don’t even know the name of the soldier who killed her.”
She mentioned the purpose of the vigil in entrance of the White House is to “send a message loud and clear to the Biden administration that they need to take a much tougher stance on this case.”
“They need to pressure the Israelis to be much more transparent about this case,” she mentioned, whereas additionally calling on the Biden administration to push for accountability within the killing of her colleague.
Aline Hanna, who mentioned Abu Akleh was her greatest good friend, instructed Anadolu that the principle message of the vigil is “seeking justice for Shireen.”
“It’s been a year, and there have been so many investigations that were conducted. But unfortunately, no actual action was taken,” she mentioned, demanding justice and accountability for Shireen.
She mentioned she and Shireen had been associates for a few years.
“It has been heartbreaking to witness what happened, the injustice that has happened to her and continues to happen to all the Palestinians,” she added.
A yr after her loss of life, nobody has been charged or held accountable, though the Israeli military admitted in September 2022 that it’s “highly probable” that she was killed by an Israeli soldier.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari on Thursday apologized for the killing of Abu Akleh, saying: “I think it’s an opportunity for me to say here that we are very sorry (for) the death of the late Shireen Abu Akleh.”
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched its personal investigation into her killing. However, based on some experiences by US media shops, the FBI brokers investigating the capturing have but to talk to key witnesses of the incident.
Meanwhile, the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. held an occasion the place Al Jazeera’s D.C. bureau chief Abderrahim Foukara, Shireen’s niece Lina Abu Akleh, National Press Club President Eileen O’Reilly and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen addressed the members.
“While I was pleased to hear that the FBI is investigating her death, we don’t know where that investigation stands. Over the last year, we have fought to ensure accountability in Shireen’s shooting death, and we won’t stop until the full truth is known and justice is done,” Senator Hollen mentioned in a video message.
“One year after Shireen’s death, her family deserves accountability. One year after her death, the United States must continue to press for accountability,” he added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
