Biden claims US will achieve accountability for Abu Akleh shooting death
Bethlehem (QNN)- United States President Joe Biden claimed on Friday that the US government is insisting on achieving accountability for the shooting death of Al Jazeera Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
“The United States will continue to insist on a full and transparent accounting of her death and will continue to stand up for media freedom everywhere in the world,” Biden said on Friday in a joint press conference with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas held at the PA’s presidential compound in Bethlehem in the southern occupied West Bank, during Biden’s four-day tour of the Middle East region between July 13-16.
Despite wearing a protective helmet and blue bulletproof vest clearly marked as “PRESS,” the 51-year-old journalist was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the head while she was covering an Israeli military raid into the Jenin refugee camp on May 11, sparking international outrage and calls for accountability for attacks on journalists. The slain journalist covered events and Israeli aggressions in the occupied Palestinian territory for 25 years.
However, the US president made no mention of Israel’s responsibility for the killing of the veteran journalist.
“She was an American citizen and a proud Palestinian,” said Biden. “I hope that her legacy will inspire more young people to carry on her work of reporting the truth and telling the stories that are too often overlooked.”
Ahead of Biden’s visit, activists, volunteers and journalists put up billboards and large banners of Abu Akleh across Bethlehem. Dozens of Palestinians also protested about a kilometre away from the PA’s presidential compound.
Palestinians demonstrate in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem in protest of U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to occupied Palestine. pic.twitter.com/4S1qB7s3m3
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 15, 2022
Photos | Palestinian protesters raise the photo of the slain Palestinian-American journalist of Al Jazeera #ShireenAbuAkleh during US President Joe Biden's visit to a Palestinian hospital in occupied Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/jpIQa8JTzK
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 15, 2022
As US President Biden is expected to briefly visit the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday, these banners were erected at the entrances to the city to express outrage over the US administration's complicity in Israeli apartheid. pic.twitter.com/RP6OPvHJ37
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 13, 2022
No questions were permitted from the press after the conference, but about a dozen journalists wore a black t-shirt with Abu Akleh’s face on it in a sign of protest.
Palestinian journalists wear T-shirts bearing the photo of the slain Palestinian-American journalist of Al Jazeera #ShireenAbuAkleh ahead of Biden's visit to Bethlehem. pic.twitter.com/ieZ1LAVvPx
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 15, 2022
