Al Jazeera journalist shot dead during Israeli raid in Palestine's Jenin
Jerusalem (Israel), May 11: An Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead on Wednesday while she was on assignment in the West Bank in Jenin, media reported.
As per the reports by CNN, another journalist Ali Al Samudi who was present with Akleh was also shot. Samudi's condition has been reported to be currently stable.
Following the tragic incident, Al Jazeera accused the security forces of Israel of deliberately targeting Abu Akleh and indulging in the act of killing her, according to CNN. The media organisation have urged the international community to condemn and hold Israel responsible for the incident.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) however stated that their security personnel had been operating in the Jenin region to arrest suspects engaged in terrorist activities. They also mentioned that when Abu Alekh was shot, both Palestinian suspects and Israeli forces were firing simultaneously.
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"As part of the activity in the Jenin refugee camp, suspects fired heavily at the force and threw explosives. The force responded by firing. Hits were detected," the IDF stated.
According to CNN, it is also being investigated whether Palestinian gunfire was the cause of Abu Alekh's death. "The incident is being investigated," the IDF noted.
However, Al-Samudi claimed that no Palestinian gunmen were present in the area when Abu Akleh was killed. He also blamed the shooting on the Israeli army.
According to CNN, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has said that his administration is prepared to conduct a joint Israeli-Palestinian investigation. Moreover, he stressed that journalists in combat zones must be protected.
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Abu Akleh came from a Christian household and had previously worked for Voice of Palestine Radio, Amman Satellite Channel, and Al Jazeera.
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-PTC News
