Palestinians condemn killing of Al Jazeera journalist in West Bank
RAMALLAH, West Bank－The killing of a journalist in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday morning sparked condemnation and outrage among the Palestinians.
Colleagues of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Palestinian eyewitnesses, and medics said that the "Israeli soldiers opened fire at her and another journalist when they were covering an Israeli army force raid on the northern West Bank city of Jenin."
The Palestinian presidency held the Israeli government fully responsible for the death of Abu Akleh, according to an official statement sent to reporters.
"The murder of Abu Akleh is a heinous crime and part of the daily policy pursued by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinians, their land, and their holy sites," the statement said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the killing, and attended her funeral on Thursday morning, the Palestinian state-run TV reported.
In a sign of Abu Akleh's stature among Palestinians, she received what was described as a full state memorial at the Ramallah compound of Abbas, attended by foreign diplomats and prominent politicians.
Thousands lined the streets as her coffin, draped in the Palestinian flag, was driven through the city.
Abu Akleh, one of the satellite channel's best-known reporters, was shot and killed on Wednesday while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank. The broadcaster and two reporters who were with her blamed Israeli forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said "it is likely that the Palestinian gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, and they are the ones who caused the unfortunate death of the journalist."
"Israel has called on the Palestinians to carry out an autopsy and a joint investigation based on the existing documents and information to get to the truth, but the Palestinians refuse," said an official statement issued by Bennett's office.
Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Gantz promised a transparent investigation, and said he was in touch with the United States and Palestinian officials.
The Palestinian Authority has rejected holding a joint probe with Israel.
Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior aide to Abbas, said that the Palestinians would conduct their own independent probe and convey the results "with high transparency".
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was appalled by the killing of Abu Akleh in the West Bank, said his deputy spokesman on Wednesday.
"The secretary-general is appalled by the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh," said deputy spokesman Farhan Haq in a statement.
Abu Akleh, 51, has been working for Al Jazeera for more than 20 years. She had covered hard news in the Palestinian territories, mainly the conflict and tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
Her death came nearly a year after an Israeli airstrike destroyed a Gaza building that housed the offices of Al Jazeera and news agency The Associated Press.
Xinhua - Agencies
