WASHINGTON, May 11, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by Emily Wilkins, president of the National Press
Club, on the second anniversary of the killing of Al Jazeera
journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, while reporting from the
West Bank in 2022.
"It has been two years since Al Jazeera
journalist Shireen Abu Akleh has
been killed by an IDF sniper while reporting on a military action
in the West Bank. And in that
time, we have seen – through excellent investigations by
western media -- more clearly what happened that day and a now
greater meaning for where we find ourselves today.
Sadly, the US government, and its ally
Israel have been unable to provide
any form of effective justice for Shireen, her family and her
country. The failure of the US and Israel in the case of Shireen Abu Akleh told the IDF that there would
be no consequences for the murder of journalists in the
future. We warned where that would lead. And now, since
Oct. 7, there have been some 100
journalists and media workers killed in Gaza, including some who appear – according to
rigorous reporting by their colleagues in the press, to have been
targeted.
Initially, the IDF insisted, Shireen was
shot by Palestinians who were firing weapons in the air. That was
false. Then, IDF claimed they were engaged in suppressing fire that
might have struck Shireen. That was false. Next they said, and
continue to say, this was an accident – despite her wearing a vest
and helmet marked 'PRESS' and her standing in an area filled with
other press members and camera crews. She was killed and it
matters, deeply, how she was killed and why.
There have been no proper investigations by the
FBI or Israel of Shireen's
killing. There have been, effectively, no changes in policy or
any retraining at the IDF following the killing of Shireen. None of
this is acceptable. And the U.S. government continues to
refuse to declassify a summation report on the killing of Shireen
that was produced by the United States Security
Coordinator for Israel and the
Palestinian Authority. While this report is not an actual criminal
investigation it is clear that it is being suppressed in a PR move
to protect the reputation of IDF.
The IDF team responsible for killing
Shireen, the shooter, the spotter and the officer who approved the
shot, have not been identified, suspended or dismissed. They could
be serving together in Gaza today
– on the second anniversary of Shireen's death. All this
is taking too long, incomplete and unjust.
She was a civilian, a journalist, a
non-combatant. She should not have been targeted. She was
a U.S. Citizen. Her government – the U.S. Government – must
continue to press for answers on who killed their citizen and for
retraining and reform of process to ensure the safety of
journalists working in the field near IDF."
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading
professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members
representing nearly every major news organization. The Club is a
leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.
Contact: Bill McCarren,
202-662-7534 for National Press Club
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SOURCE National Press Club