Wide condemnations of the crime of assassinating Palestinian journalist, ShireenAbu Akleh continue

Capitals, (ST) – On Wednesday, the Palestinian presidency condemned the crime of the Israeli occupation forces assassinating journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Wafa News Agency quoted the presidency as saying in a statement that, this heinous crime is part of the occupation’s daily oppressive practices against the Palestinian people, their land and their holy sites. It pointed out that the assassination of journalist Abu Akleh comes within the occupation’s policy of targeting journalists to obliterate the truth and commit crimes silently.

The Palestinian presidency referred to the courage of Palestinian journalists who continue to carry out their national and humanitarian duty towards their cause.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that, with the martyrdom of journalist Abu Akleh, Palestine lost a reporter  who worked with sincerity and honesty to convey the Palestinian cause to the world.

 “Abu Akleh contributed in documenting the crimes of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, their land and their holy sites”, Abbas added.

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh also mourned the journalist, Abu Akleh who was the icon of the national press. “The martyr Abu Akleh, who, while performing her duty, died in documenting the horrific crimes committed by the occupation against the Palestinians”, Shtayyeh added.

In turn, Palestinian National Council Speaker Rawhi Fattouh said that, the intentional targeting of Palestinian journalists and the media means by the occupation forces and settlers comes in the context of their attempt to hide the crimes they arecommitting against the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the crime, explaining that, it is an extension of the ongoing field executions against the Palestinian people and journalists in particular, in a systematic attempt by the occupation to silence the voice of truth and to cover up the crimes of the occupation and its settlers.

The ministry affirmed that the martyr Abu Akleh is a victim of the terrorism of the organized occupation, which behaves with the mentality of the Zionist gangs.“She is a victim of double international standards and the dubious silence of the International Criminal Court”, the ministry added.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stated that it had asked the embassies to move immediately towards the foreign ministries, decision-making centers, public opinion, the media and its various means in the host countries in order to expose the crime of the occupation.

Meanwhile, the General Union of Arab Journalists condemned in the strongest terms the crimes of the Zionist enemy against the Palestinian people, including the assassination of journalist Abu Akleh.

In a statement, the union held the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for this heinous crime against freedom of the press at a time when the world and all fellow journalists salute the World Press Freedom Day and Arab Press Freedom Day. The union also called for an international investigation into this crime.

The United Nations envoy to the Middle East, Tor Wencesland, also condemned the murder of journalist Abu Akleh, calling on Twitter for an immediate and comprehensive investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.

The European Union mission in Palestine also expressed its shock at the assassination of journalist Abu Akleh, calling for a prompt and independent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. It stressed the need to ensure the safety and protection of journalists.

Raghda Sawas