London, Geneva

PRC delivered an oral statement about Israel’s unlawful killing of Palestinian-American Journalist - Shireen Abu Akleh, as part of Agenda Item 3 of the ID with SR freedom of expression session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

PRC’s representative said that on the morning of the 11th May 2022, Israeli forces shot and killed Palestinian-American Journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh whilst she was wearing a press vest, reporting on an Israeli raid of a Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin, in the Occupied West Bank.

“Abu Akleh, a journalist with the International News Network - Al Jazeera, was wearing a press vest and was standing with other journalists when she was killed”, said Hosain.

PRC’s speaker said the deliberate targeting of journalists, like the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces, categorically constitute as both an international law violation and a war crime. Journalists are protected under international humanitarian law against such direct attacks.

“Violations of this rule constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I”, he added.

PRC’s representative said that on Friday 13th of May, thousands of Palestinians mourners who came to attend Abu Akleh’s funeral in Occupied Jerusalem were attacked as her body left St. Joseph Hospital to proceed to her funeral, as Israeli police attacked the funeral procession – nearly forcing pallbearers to drop Abu Akleh’s coffin.

He referred to data by the Jerusalem Red Crescent, which stated that 33 people were injured in the attacks and six were hospitalised during her funeral procession by Israeli forces. An estimated 50 Palestinian journalists have been killed since 2000 by Israeli forces.

PRC called on the members of the Human Rights Council to open and to both transparently and independently investigate the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. It also called on the world’s governments and leading human rights institutions to take the necessary measures towards the State of Israel, in order to ensure no more Palestinian journalists are killed for merely fulfilling their job.

PRC has formally submitted another written statement to the Human Rights Council with more details on this crime. The document with reference A/HRC/50/NGO/114 can be found HERE.

Watch the statement here:

https://youtu.be/lTXJJLhmnes