How impunity in Shireen Abu Akleh’s case fuels Israeli attacks on the press | Freedom of the Press News
Palestinian Journalist Recalls Trauma of Colleague’s Death as Accountability Remains Elusive
Ibn Sina Hospital, Occupied West Bank — Medics at Ibn Sina Hospital had to restrain Ali al-Samoudi, a Palestinian journalist, while treating a gunshot wound he sustained on May 11, 2022. This incident unfolded as the body of his colleague, Shireen Abu Akleh, a veteran Al Jazeera correspondent, was brought to the facility.
“I managed to see Shireen lying next to me. I couldn’t believe the situation. I started screaming and tried to get to her, but they wouldn’t let me,” al-Samoudi said in an interview with Al Jazeera. “But I knew from my experience in fieldwork that it was clear that she had been killed.”
On that fateful day, Israeli soldiers shot al-Samoudi in the back before another bullet fatally struck Abu Akleh, who was a U.S. citizen and widely respected across the Arab world. Monday marks the second anniversary of her death, an event that has sparked ongoing controversy and calls for accountability.
Immediately following the shooting, Al Jazeera labeled it an assassination executed “in cold blood.” Since then, Israeli forces have been implicated in the deaths of hundreds of journalists and more than ten U.S. citizens in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, yet no arrests or charges have followed any of these events, including the case of Abu Akleh.
Advocates argue that the U.S. government’s failure to hold accountable those responsible for Abu Akleh’s death contributes to a pattern of violence against journalists in the region. “The absence of accountability and justice has allowed for an escalation in the killing of journalists,” al-Samoudi remarked.
He criticized U.S. support for Israel, suggesting that if appropriate measures had been taken in the wake of Abu Akleh’s death, countless lives could have been saved. “All this bias and support for Israel has proven to be a violation of our rights to freedom and existence,” he said.
James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, supported this view, stating that only the U.S. holds the power to influence this situation. “It has levers it chooses not to use,” he noted.
While U.S. officials confirmed the launch of an investigation into Abu Akleh’s killing in late 2022, the inquiry has yielded no public reports or charges to date. Al-Samoudi, one of the few eyewitnesses to the incident, indicated that he had only been interviewed once by U.S. officials, and there has been no follow-up since.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the FBI, did not respond to inquiries regarding the ongoing investigation by time of publication. During the prior administration of President Joe Biden, the U.S. adopted the Israeli narrative that Abu Akleh’s death was accidental.
The broader landscape remains troubling. According to Martin Roux, head of the crisis desk at Reporters Without Borders, the lack of accountability following Abu Akleh’s killing has sent a message that Israel can act with impunity against Palestinian journalists. “This incident is part of a long series of targeted killings,” Roux stated.
Eyewitness accounts describe how al-Samoudi and Abu Akleh were among journalists who arrived at the western edge of the Jenin refugee camp amid an Israeli military raid. Clad in clearly marked press gear, they sought safe positions to report.
“As journalists, we were alone and clearly identified,” al-Samoudi said. “There were no [Palestinian] fighters or clashes around us.” After hearing gunfire, he attempted to warn Abu Akleh as he felt the impact of a bullet.
The killing of Abu Akleh occurred during increased Israeli military activity in the West Bank, a time when then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sought to showcase an unyielding stance against Palestinians.
Palestine’s media landscape has seen a troubling escalation. Al-Samoudi, recently released after a year in Israeli administrative detention, highlighted the ongoing risks for journalists in the region. “Assaults against journalists have become increasingly common,” he said. “They want to silence us.”
Despite these challenges, al-Samoudi remains resolute about the importance of reporting. “The coverage continues,” he stated. “Shireen Abu Akleh’s voice will not be silenced.”
Al-Samoudi honored Abu Akleh’s legacy, emphasizing her profound impact on journalism and her commitment to reporting with integrity. “Generations will learn from her. She represents an enduring flame that will never be extinguished,” he concluded.
