White House condemns Israel’s killing of Al Jazeera’s Shereen Abu Aqleh

Washington (QNN)- Incoming White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that the US government condemns the killing of Al Jazeera reporter Shereen Abu Aqleh, who was fatally shot by Israeli forces while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank yesterday.

“We strongly condemn the killing of Al Jazeera journalist and American citizen Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin today and we extend our deepest condolences to her family,” Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Chicago.

“We call for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances of her death. Investigating attacks on independent media and prosecuting those responsible are of paramount importance,” Jean-Pierre added.

“We will continue to promote media freedom and protect journalists’ ability to do their jobs without fear of violence, threats to their lives for safety or unjust detention.”

Jean-Pierre said she had no information about whether President Biden intends to call the family of the 51-year-old journalist, or if the killing would alter a planned presidential trip to ‘Israel’ next month.

Yesterday, the US State Department also slammed the killing. “Her death is an affront to media freedom everywhere,” the US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a tweet.

“The US is heartbroken by the killing of American journalist Shereen Abu Akleh,” he said, adding that “the investigation must be immediate and thorough and those responsible must be held accountable.”

Several US lawmakers condemned Israel’s killing of Abu Aqleh and called for a probe into the incident.

“Shocking to learn that Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, a 51-year old U.S. citizen, was shot in the face and killed while reporting in the occupied West Bank,” Congresswoman Betty McCollum wrote on Twitter. “This must be condemned and investigated, and there must be accountability.”

Congressman Mark Pocan also called Israel’s killing of Abu Aqleh “shameful”.

“She was killed by the Israeli military, after making her presence as a journalist clearly known. We provide Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid annually with no restrictions. What will it take for accountability for these human rights violations?” tweeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

“When will the world and those who stand by Apartheid Israel that continues to murder, torture and commit war crimes finally say: “Enough”? Shireen Abu Akleh was murdered by a government that receives unconditional funding by our country with zero accountability,” wrote Rashida Tlaib on Twitter.

On the House floor, on Wednesday, Tlaib also held a moment of silence to honor Abu Aqleh. “People woke up to the killing Shireen Abu Akleh and I would like to do a moment of silence [over this] this shocking news, a journalist of over twenty years, a Palestinian-American killed,” said Tlaib while visibly holding back tears.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, also tweeted, “The killing of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is an horrific tragedy. A thorough, objective investigation is needed now.”

According to the Qatar-based news channel, Al Jazeera, and the Palestinian Health Ministry, Shereen Abu Aqleh was shot in the face by a single bullet fired by Israeli forces while she was covering an Israeli military raid into the Jenin refugee camp despite wearing a press vest, earlier on Wednesday. She was rushed to Ibn Sina hospital in critical condition and was announced dead soon afterwards.

Another journalist identified as Ali Asmoadi who works for the Jerusalem-based Al-Quds newspaper was also shot in the back by Israeli live bullet during the same raid and he is in a stable condition.