Al Jazeera seeks International Criminal Court's assistance over journalist's death

Funeral of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90)

Al Jazeera Media Network said on Thursday that it had appointed a legal team to refer the assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The network stated that it has organized an international coalition consisting of its legal staff and international experts and is drafting a dossier on Abu Aqleh's "murder" for submission to the ICC prosecutor.

Al Jazeera stated that its application to the International Criminal Court would include the Israeli bombing "and total destruction" of its Gaza office in May 2021, as well as "the continuous incitements and attacks" on Al Jazeera journalists operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Article 8 of the International Criminal Court's charter classifies the murder or physical attack of journalists working in war zones or occupied territory as a war crime.

"Al Jazeera Media Network condemns the murder of our colleague Shireen Abu Aqleh, who covered the ongoing conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories for 25 years as a professional journalist," the network stated in a statement.

"The Network pledges to pursue all avenues to obtain justice for Shireen and to ensure that those responsible for her murder are brought to justice and held accountable in all international justice and legal platforms and courts," the statement continued.

Abu Aqleh was slain earlier last month in Jenin following fighting between IDF soldiers and Palestinian Arab terrorists.

Palestinian Attorney top prosecutor Akram Khatib presented the results of the PA's inquiry into the killing of Abu Aqleh earlier on Thursday, claiming that IDF soldiers shot her.

Khatib stated that the IDF had a clear and direct view of the location of the journalists in Jenin at the time Shireen Abu Aqleh was shot.

Khatib reported that Abu Aqleh and the other journalists with her were identifying themselves as journalists and that she was shot while rushing to flee IDF firing.

The PA allegation was issued two days after CNN aired a similar report claiming Israel was responsible for Abu Aqleh's murder.

Israel has maintained that it is plausible that an IDF soldier unintentionally shot Abu Aqleh. Still, it is also likely that she was attacked by terrorists involved in a confrontation with IDF troops and firing erratically at the time.

According to Israel, without access to the bullet that killed her, it is impossible to determine which side fired the shot. The PA has denied Israel's call for a joint investigation into the event.

Publish : 2022-05-27 09:12:00

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