Al Jazeera (Qatar) television channel announced this Tuesday (6) that it has submitted its death case to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), claiming that journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces during an operation. job of being in the press.
Al Jazeera network said in a statement that it “discovered new evidence” about the circumstances of the death of the Palestinian and US citizen reporter who was shot in the head on May 11 while watching an Israeli army operation in Jenin in the occupied West. Bank.
The ICC is not obligated to review cases submitted by groups or individuals. Most allegations are not investigated.
The Qatari broadcaster is requesting that the case be investigated, as there is “new evidence from witnesses and new evidence that clearly shows that Shireen and her colleagues were shot with direct-fired weapons by the Israeli Occupation Forces.”
The news channel states that “Israeli authorities’ claim that Shireen was accidentally killed in a shootout is completely unfounded.”
The ICC has launched an investigation into war crimes in the Palestinian territories, but Israel is questioning its authority.
On September 5, the Israeli army acknowledged the possibility that one of its soldiers shot the journalist, mistaking him for a Palestinian militant.
But Israel has already said it will not cooperate in any external investigation into Abu Akleh’s death.
“No one will investigate Israeli army soldiers and no one will lecture us on the morals of war, at least in Al Jazeera,” Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said.
The veteran journalist was wearing a bulletproof vest and a helmet with the words “Press” on it when he was shot in the head in the Jenin refugee camp, a historical site of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The journalist’s niece, Lina Abu Akleh, asked the ICC to investigate the reporter’s death, as the evidence was “clear”.
The family wanted to meet with prosecutor Karim Kahn.
Lawyer Rodney Dixon said the death of Abu Akleh was “completely covered up” by Israeli authorities.
He also said the murder was part of Israel’s “systematic and widespread campaign” against Al Jazeera, which included the bombing of a building that housed the television station’s offices in Gaza last year.
Calling for “justice for Shireen,” Dixon said it was “a clear attempt to shut down and silence Al Jazeera.”
After receiving a formal complaint from individuals or groups, the ICC independently decides which cases to refer to court judges.
The judges decide whether to allow a preliminary investigation by the prosecutor, which can be followed by a formal investigation and ultimately bring charges.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.