Alwaght- Al Jazeera Media Network is set to submit the case of its Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing by Israeli regime forces to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Abu Akleh was shot dead by Israeli forces on May 11 while covering an Israeli army assault on Jenin refugee camp in the north of the West Bank.
Al Jazeera’s legal team has conducted a full and detailed investigation into the case and unearthed new evidence based on several eyewitness accounts, the examination of multiple items of video footage, and forensic evidence pertaining to the case, according to an Al Jazeera press release.
Al Jazeera said that it has highlighted in its submission to the ICC Prosecutor that the new witness evidence and video footage clearly show that Abu Akleh and her colleagues were directly fired at by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).
“The claim by the Israeli authorities that Shireen was killed by mistake in an exchange of fire is completely unfounded,” it said. “The evidence presented to the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) confirms, without any doubt, that there was no firing in the area where Shireen was, other than the IOF shooting directly at her. The journalists were in full view of the IOF as they walked as a group slowly down the road with their distinctive media vests, and there were no other persons in the road. The IOF inquiry that found there was no suspicion of any crime being committed is entirely undermined by the available evidence which has now been provided to the OTP. The evidence shows that this deliberate killing was part of a wider campaign to target and silence Al Jazeera.”
Al Jazeera reiterated its commitment to achieving justice for Abu Akleh and to exploring all avenues to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable and brought to justice.
