Al Jazeera Urges ICC to Investigate Abu Akleh Killing

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Facts

  • On Tuesday, the Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network submitted a formal request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
  • Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American who worked for Al Jazeera for 25 years, was killed on May 11 after covering a raid at a refugee camp in Jenin in the West Bank. She was shot in the head while wearing a helmet and a bullet-proof vest marked with the word "PRESS."
  • Al Jazeera said their submission includes evidence that overturns Israeli claims that Abu Akleh was killed in crossfire and that it "confirms, without any doubt, that there was no firing in the area where [Abu Akleh] was, other than the Israeli Occupation Forces shooting directly at her."
  • The move follows an earlier submission from Abu Akleh's family to the ICC in September. After that complaint, a spokesman for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the Times of Israel it rejects the claim that Abu Akleh was shot intentionally and said the establishment of a new investigation would be "biased and misleading."
  • Meanwhile, following Tuesday's application to the court, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said: "No one will interrogate IDF soldiers and no one will preach to us about morals of combat, certainly not the Al Jazeera network."
  • It follows similar statements from Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz who said the country "will not cooperate with any external investigation" after the US's FBI said it was also opening a probe last month.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Times of Israel, MSN, and Guardian.

Narratives

  • Pro-Palestine, as provided by Al Jazeera. Abu Akleh was intentionally murdered by Israeli forces while carrying out her job as a journalist. There was no "crossfire," Abu Akleh was clearly identified as a journalist, and other reporters at the scene said that they were shot at intentionally. The ICC must open an investigation and get justice for Abu Akleh's family.
  • Pro-Israel, as provided by Jerusalem Post. While tragic, Abu Akleh's death wasn't deliberate, as was found by multiple investigations. The IDF's probe — which included the US — thoroughly investigated the incident in an unbiased way, regardless of what Israel haters have said. An ICC investigation's findings would be no different.