One Thousand Days Later, Shireen Abu Akleh's Murder Still Unpunished: International Protests Against Israeli Abuse
On May 11, 2022, Shireen Abu Akleh, the renowned Al Jazeera journalist, was killed by Israeli forces while covering an Israeli raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. Despite a thousand days having passed since her death, no one has been held accountable for the killing, remaining unresolved despite extensive investigations by international human rights organizations and media outlets.
Shireen Abu Akleh was a major name in Arab journalism, having reported on Israeli aggression and abuse in Palestine for 25 years. Her murder has become a topic of discussion not only in the Arab world but also at the international level.
Israel Acknowledges Responsibility, but No Justice
Initially, Israel tried to blame Palestinians for Shireen Abu Akleh's death, but later admitted responsibility and claimed it was an accident. However, just a week later, Israel decided not to investigate its soldiers, arguing that investigating them could cause controversy within Israeli society.
Divided U.S. Stance
After Shireen Abu Akleh's death, the U.S. government was initially pressured to ensure the perpetrators received the highest punishment, but after Israel apologized for its soldiers' actions, the U.S. backed down from this demand and did not call for further investigations.
Continuous Evidence of Journalist's Death
No Israeli soldiers have been brought to justice for the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, although several news agencies and human rights organizations, including CNN, Al-Haq, and Forensic Architecture, have conducted investigations and found evidence that Shireen Abu Akleh was deliberately killed by Israeli forces.
ICC and UN Inaction
In December 2022, Al Jazeera filed a case with the International Criminal Court (ICC), but no effective measures have been taken by the ICC on the matter. A United Nations commission mentioned in their report in October 2023 that Israeli forces deliberately targeted Shireen Abu Akleh, which is a clear example of a human rights violation.
Despite these numerous investigations and international protests, no effective action has been taken against the Israeli forces for Shireen Abu Akleh's killing, leaving her family and international human rights organizations frustrated.
