White House condemns killing of American journalist during Israeli raid in West Bank and says prosecuting those responsible for attacks on the media is of 'paramount importance' after death of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh
- Palestinian television personality Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, killed in West Bank raid
- Abu Akleh, who was born in Jerusalem, had United States citizenship
- The White House demanded an investigation into the killing
- Prosecuting anyone responsible for attacks on journalists was of 'paramount importance,' said spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre
- The State Department condemned the killing as an 'affront to media freedom'
- Spokesman Ned Price demanded a thorough and immediate investigation
- Israeli Prime Minister said it was 'likely' that Palestinian gunfire killed her
The White House on Wednesday condemned the killing of an American journalist during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank, and demanded an investigation into the death of Al Jazeera's Shireen Abu Akleh.
Akleh, 51, was a well-known Palestinian television reporter who also had U.S. citizenship.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the killing and said prosecuting anyone responsible for attacks on journalists was of 'paramount importance.'
'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,' she said.
'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.'
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the killing as she she spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday
The State Department also demanded a thorough, immediate investigation and said those responsible for killing the American journalist 'must be held responsible'
Earlier State Department spokesman Ned Price demanded accountability for those responsible.
'We are heartbroken by and strongly condemn the killing of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank,' he said.
'The investigation must be immediate and thorough and those responsible must be held accountable.
'Her death is an affront to media freedom everywhere.'
Another Palestinian journalist, Ali Al Samoudi, working for the Jerusalem-based Al-Quds newspaper, was wounded but in stable condition, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
The IDF said that Palestinians, who were firing indiscriminately, had claimed to have hit someone, yet no IDF soldier was hit.
'She may have been shot by Palestinians,' IDF spokesperson Ran Kochav said.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett however said it was 'likely' that Palestinian gunfire killed her.
The body of slain Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, lies on the ground while her colleague, Shatha Hanaysheh, covers her mouth in shock as firing continues
Well-known Palestinian television personality Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, (pictured) from Jerusalem, was killed during a raid on Jenin early Wednesday
A young man from the area attends to Abu Akleh's body
Journalists escort the body of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, who was shot dead as she covered a raid on the West Bank's Jenin refugee camp this morning
Journalists mourn over the body of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh. In video footage of the incident, Abu Akleh can be seen wearing a blue flak jacket clearly marked with the word 'PRESS'
A Pally medical worker covers the body of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Israeli security forces said it is 'investigating the event and looking into the possibility that the journalists were hit by the Palestinian gunmen'
The Palestinian Authority has rejected the offer of a joint investigation with Israel.
It may not be possible to definitively know the truth without their cooperation.
Jenin refugee camp is in a region known to be a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups in the northern West Bank.
The Israeli Army firmly denied, however, that it had deliberately targeted journalists.
'The (army) of course does not aim at journalists,' a military official told AFP. 'There is an ongoing inquiry into this event. We offered and want to conduct a joint investigation with the Palestinians.'
The army said that during its operation in the camp, 'massive fire was shot toward Israeli forces by tens of armed Palestinian gunmen'.
People in the camp 'also hurled explosive devices toward the soldiers, endangering their lives.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry put out a short video on Twitter of IDF soldiers firing and a text reading: 'Palestinian terrorists, firing indiscriminately, are likely to have hit Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla'.
Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said it had proposed to the Palestinian Authority a joint pathological investigation into the reporter's death.
'Journalists must be protected in conflict zones and we all have a responsibility to get to the truth,' he tweeted.
Mourners and masked armed men carry the body of veteran Al Jazeera Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, shot and killed this morning in Jenin
Shireen Abu Aqleh was well known, having joined Al Jazeera in 1997 and appeared on television regularly.
Israel has in recent weeks experienced a series of deadly attacks inside Israel, many of them carried out by Palestinians from in and around Jenin.
The town, and particularly its refugee camp, has long been known as a militant bastion.
Israelis have long been critical of Al-Jazeera's coverage, but authorities generally allow its journalists to operate freely.
IDF Chief of Staff, Major General Aviv Kochavi said: “Palestinians fired extensively at our forces, firing wildly and indiscriminately in every direction. Unlike the Palestinians, IDF soldiers carry out professional and selective firing."
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pointed the finger at Palestinian crossfire.
“According to the information we’ve gathered, it appears likely that armed Palestinians – who were indiscriminately firing at the time – were responsible for the unfortunate death of the journalist.”
Israeli officials, including the IDF and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released a video showing a man firing down an alley and people running in the Jenin Refugee Camp, shouting about a soldier being hit.
“No IDF soldier was injured, which increases the possibility that Palestinian terrorists were the ones who shot the journalist,” Bennett said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Twitter that his government had offered to conduct a joint Israeli-Palestinian investigation, adding: “Journalists must be protected in conflict zones and we all have a responsibility to get to the truth.”
Israel asked the Palestinian medical team that performed a preliminary autopsy to hand over the fatal bullet for further examination.
Gantz said Israeli forces came under attack by indiscriminate fire by Palestinian militants from several directions. The army released a body cam video of forces in the town while heavy fire is heard in the background.
Gantz described the situation as chaotic. He said that the investigation could only make progress with the cooperation of the Palestinian forensic team.
“We are very decisive to have a full-scale investigation ... and we hope to get Palestinian cooperation on this issue.”
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