International Criminal Court should probe killing of Palestinian journalist: Al Jazeera | 24CA News
News channel Al Jazeera on Tuesday formally requested the International Criminal Court to analyze the deadly capturing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as she was reporting from a Palestinian refugee camp in May.
Al Jazeera has accused the Israeli authorities of particularly concentrating on its journalists, calling Abu Akleh’s dying a conflict crime. The news outlet desires ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to incorporate the reporter’s killing, in addition to final yr’s Israeli airstrike on Al Jazeera’s workplaces in Gaza, in his ongoing investigation into allegations of conflict crimes within the West Bank and Gaza.
“My family still doesn’t know who shot the deadly bullet,” Lena Abu Akleh, Shireen’s niece, informed reporters throughout a press convention. The household submitted their very own request for an ICC investigation in September.
Following worldwide strain, Israeli defence forces admitted it was probably that considered one of their troopers shot the distinguished correspondent whereas she was reporting on a army raid within the West Bank. The IDF denied the capturing was intentional and declared the case closed.
Israel dismissive of doable probe
Al Jazeera noticed the killing as yet one more assault on the press freedom of Palestinians.
“Palestinian journalists have been targeted for doing their jobs as journalists,” Cameron Doley, who’s representing Al Jazeera, informed reporters after submitting the criticism to the world’s solely everlasting court docket for atrocities crimes.
“No one will investigate [Israeli] soldiers and no one will preach to us about morals in warfare, certainly not Al Jazeera,” Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid mentioned in an announcement in response to Tuesday’s submitting.
ICC prosecutors opened a preliminary examination into allegations of Israeli conflict crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in 2015, however didn’t start a proper investigation till final yr after figuring out that the court docket had jurisdiction.
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched its personal investigation into the lethal encounter after U.S. lawmakers had been upset with the Israeli army’s response. Abu Akleh obtained U.S. citizenship whereas residing within the United States as a toddler.
