Two years ago, Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot by Israeli forces while reporting in the occupied West Bank, on May 11, 2022. In addition to targeting and executing Shireen and injuring her cameraman and other staff, Israeli soldiers also attacked her funeral, pushing and beating mourners and nearly knocking the casket to the ground.
Al Jazeera spoke with Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel Program at the Arab Center Washington DC, about the lack of accountability in her killing, which helped pave the way for the rampant Israeli abuses taking place in Gaza.
“What we have seen Israel do in terms of killing a record number of journalists in Gaza is directly connected to the lack of accountability for Shireen,” Munayyer told Al Jazeera.
“If you can kill an American citizen, who was among the highest profile journalists in the Arab world, on camera and get away with it, that sends a very clear message about what’s permissible.”
Since Israel’s invasion of Gaza began on October 7th, 2023, Israeli forces have killed at least 145 journalists — many of whom were specifically targeted while wearing press vests or jackets.
According to the Shireen Abu Akleh Foundation, Shireen Abu Akleh (born April 3, 1971, Jerusalem) was a Palestinian – American journalist who worked for Al Jazeera as a correspondent for 25 years. Shireen was born and raised in Jerusalem and attended the Rosary Sisters School. She later graduated with a B.A. Degree in Journalism and Political Science from Yarmouk University in Jordan, 1991. Her passion to continue learning never ceased. With an ever evolving technology, Shireen was keen to learn the latest tools to incorporate in her daily reporting. In 2020, Shireen received a diploma in Digital Media from Birzeit University.
Shireen worked as an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 1997. She became one of the most prominent journalists in the region known for her professionalism and courageous reporting from the field. She inspired generations of young Palestinian and Arab women to pursue careers in journalism. Before joining Al Jazeera, Shireen was one of the founding journalists of the Voice of Palestine Radio and worked for Radio Monte Carlo. She also held a part-time position at Birzeit university where she taught media.
Shireen worked on numerous reports and covered major national and international events. Some of which include, the second intifada, Israel’s wars on Gaza, the 2005 Israeli disengagement from the strip, the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon, daily military raids in the Occupied West Bank and more. Shireen’s coverage extended to major global events, such as U.S. elections, Brexit and Arab Summits. Most importantly she humanized the stories of Palestinians and reported on their daily realities under the Israeli occupation.
On May 11, 2022 an Israeli sniper killed Shireen while she was covering an Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Since the killing of Shireen, institutions, civil societies, and various organizations launched solidarity campaigns to honor her legacy. Memorials have been built in her honor, scholarships created in her name and countless awards presented to her posthumously.
.@SMArikat asked StateSpox about accountability for the killing of P
alestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh 2 years ago.Miller: It was investigated by Israel and us and I don’t have anything to add
Said: So the case is closed?
Miller: I don’t have any further to say pic.twitter.com/zGBIAnAKoA
— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) May 11, 2024
2 years on, and Israel has not been held accountable for deliberately murdering Shireen Abu Akleh or violently attacking her funeral. This image will never leave me. pic.twitter.com/OrTp5Zs2K4
— Hamza (@Hamza_a96) May 11, 2024
It’s been 2 years since my aunt #ShireenAbuAkleh was killed by an Israeli soldier and life has not been the same since. No one has been held accountable & the U.S. has failed our family in holding the killer responsible. #JusticeforShireen. pic.twitter.com/EzkirZQemO
— Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh) May 11, 2024
