UN chief appalled at Al jazeera reporter’s killing
UN Secretary General António Guterres says he is “appalled” by Wednesday’s killing of veteran Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla.
The United States also condemned the killing and called her a “reporting legend”. Her producer was injured.
Al Jazeera said Israeli troops “deliberately” shot her. Israel’s prime minister said it was “likely” she was shot by Palestinian gunmen.
But Naftali Bennett’s military chief said the Israeli armed forces were not yet able to determine what happened.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas said he held the Israeli government fully responsible for what he described as a “crime of execution”.
In a statement issued via his spokesperson late on Wednesday, Guterres called on “the relevant authorities to carry out an independent and transparent investigation into this incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable”.
He further said: “The secretary general condemns all attacks and killings of journalists and stresses that journalists must never be the target of violence.”
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter that Americans were “heartbroken to learn of the killing” of Abu Aqla and the injuries to her producer.
Psaki said: “We send our deepest condolences to her family, friends and strongly condemn her killing.” She called Aqla a “reporting legend” who will be “mourned by all who knew her”.
Early on Wednesday morning, she went to the Jenin refugee camp to report on a raid by Israeli soldiers and security forces, which the Israeli military said was conducted to apprehend “terrorist suspects”.
“During the activity, tens of Palestinian gunmen fired at and hurled explosive devices toward the soldiers. The soldiers responded with fire toward the gunmen and hits were identified,” a military statement said.—BBC
