UNESCO, UN Committee Condemn Israeli Occupation Assassination of Palestinian Journalist Abu Akleh

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The UNESCO and the United Nations General Assembly’s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People condemned the assassination of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was fatally shot by the Israeli occupation forces in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.

Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, said in a statement, “I condemn the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. The killing of a clearly identified press worker in a conflict area is a violation of international law. I call on the relevant authorities to investigate this crime and bring those responsible to justice.”

Abu Akleh, a well-known Al Jazeera correspondent, was reporting in Jenin when she was fatally shot, despite the fact that she was wearing a jacket with the word “press” written on it, the statement maintained.

“UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building, and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity,” said UNESCO.

For its part, the Bureau of the United Nations General Assembly’s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People extended its deepest condolences to Abu Akleh’s family and wished a speedy recovery to injured fellow journalist Ali Al-Samoudi.

The Bureau reiterated the crucial role played by journalists in conflict zones and the imperative of media freedom to provide accurate information and underscored that they should never be targets of violence, harassment, or intimidation.

The Bureau called for an immediate, independent, and thorough international investigation into this killing and for bringing to justice those responsible.

It also reiterated its calls for the protection of the Palestinian people in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The Bureau has repeatedly stated that the Israeli occupation of Palestine remains the source of the conflict and suffering and urges the realization of a two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions as the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

This is an objective that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people to self-determination, independence, and freedom and puts an end to Israel’s ongoing occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, said the release.