UN condemns killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

Veteran US-Palestinian reporter was shot while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank

The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and called for “an immediate, thorough, transparent, and fair and impartial investigation” into her death.

Abu Akleh was killed while reporting on an Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank.

The statement approved by the 15 council members on Friday night reiterated “that journalists should be protected as civilians” and also condemned the injury to Abu Akleh’s colleague.

Abu Akleh, 51, was a household name across the Arab world, renowned for her coverage of Palestinian life under Israeli rule for more than 25 years.

She was shot dead on Wednesday during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin. Journalists who were with her, including an Al Jazeera colleague who was shot and wounded, said Israeli forces fired upon them even though they were clearly identifiable as reporters.

Sections of the Security Council draft statement that stressed the importance of media freedom and the need for journalists working in dangerous areas to be protected were removed at the insistence of China and Russia, diplomats told Associated Press.

Anger at Abu Akleh’s killing escalated on Friday when Israeli riot police pushed and beat pallbearers at the start of her funeral in Jerusalem, causing them to briefly drop her casket.

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  Violence erupts between Israeli security forces and mourners carrying the casket of killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh before it is taken to a church and then to her final resting place in Jerusalem. AFP

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  Israeli police detain a protester near Jaffa Gate while the funeral of Abu Akleh, who was killed during an Israeli raid in Jenin in the West Bank, takes place in Jerusalem. Reuters

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  An Israeli police officer scuffles with a man as Abu Akleh's casket is loaded into a minivan before her funeral procession in the Old City of Jerusalem. EPA

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  Palestinian mourners carry the casket of Abu Akleh out of a hospital before it is taken to a church. AFP

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  Israeli soldiers stand guard as the casket is carried by family and friends during her funeral in Jerusalem. Reuters

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  Israeli mounted police in riot gear outside the hospital where the killed veteran journalist was taken, in East Jerusalem. AP

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  People pray as they gather at the St Joseph Hospital to pay tribute to Abu Akleh before her funeral. EPA

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  Violence erupts between Israeli security forces and Palestinian mourners. AFP

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  A Palestinian woman waves a national flag on the rooftop of a building where an Israeli flag has been placed, hours before the funeral in Jerusalem. AFP

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  Israeli police on guard during the funeral procession. EPA

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  People wave Palestinian flags as they gather to pay tribute to Abu Akleh before her funeral. EPA

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  Israeli border police stand guard before the funeral. EPA

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  Mourners react during the burial of the veteran journalist at the Mount Zion Cemetery outside Jerusalem's Old City. AFP

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  Family and friends stand by Abu Akleh's coffin during her funeral in a church in Jerusalem. Reuters

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  Family and friends carry the coffin during the funeral. Reuters

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  Mourners gather to bury Abu Akleh in Jerusalem. AP

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  Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

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  Mourners hold a banner with a photo of Abu Akleh as they walk from the Old City of Jerusalem to her burial site. AP

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  Mourners attend the funeral in the Old City of Jerusalem. AP

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  Mourners carry the coffin to the Mount Zion Cemetery. AFP

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  Family and friends carry Abu Akleh's coffin during her funeral in Jerusalem. Reuters

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  Israeli police arrest a man during the funeral procession in Jerusalem. EPA

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was "deeply troubled" by the police action at the funeral.

"Every family deserves to lay their loved ones to rest in a dignified and unimpeded manner," Mr Blinken said on Twitter.

Israel says it is investigating Abu Alkeh's death. It initially suggested she might have been shot by Palestinian militants, without providing evidence, but has since backtracked. Israel called for a joint investigation with the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank and co-operates with it on security.

But the Palestinians rejected a joint investigation and demanded an independent international investigation.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed Israel for her killing and said he would immediately ask the International Criminal Court to investigate. The ICC launched an investigation into possible Israeli war crimes over a year ago, a probe Israel has rejected as biased.

The Security Council did not use the word international, calling for an impartial investigation and stressing the need to ensure accountability.

Negotiations on the council statement were led by Norway, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Norway’s UN Ambassador Mona Juul commended the “good collaboration”, calling the protection of journalists a priority for her country.

“We are particularly concerned about the rising trend in attacks on media works, and on women journalists in particular,” Ms Juul said.

With reporting from Associated Press