After a month-long investigation, the United Nations (UN) have confirmed that journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot by Israeli forces. The report also confirmed there was no activity by armed Palestinians in the immediate vicinity of the journalists.
The investigation was done by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Although the report clearly states that Akleh was shot by Israeli forces Wafa A Al-Udaini, Gaza-based journalist, believes that no action will be taken against Israel.
“The UN investigations found that she was killed by Israeli forces. This is very clear now to everyone but I’m really sure that they are not going to punish Israel or do anything regarding the killing of her. It is clear that she was killed by occupation fire. They have to punish Israel for this. They have to send this matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and then stop the Israeli occupation soldier who killed her.”
Shireen Abu Akleh murder was a message from the Israeli government
Another Israeli crime that will go unpunished
The crimes committed by Israeli forces are well documented. From illegally demolishing homes to shooting unarmed civilians, all of these crimes have gone unpunished. It is for this reasons Al-Udaini has no doubts that Israel will also not be punished for the murder of Akleh.
“I’m really sure that they are not going to do anything. This is not the first crime to be committed by the occupation forces. Since the occupation of Palestine, we have seen tens of thousands of crimes. It is so clear that Israel commits so many massacres, so many ethnic cleansings, so many crimes against humanity, against the Palestinian children and against women but nobody will stop the Israeli crimes.”
They killed her with “Malice aforethought”
The chances of getting justice
There are talks to take the matter to the ICC in hopes that justice will be served. There is a sense that because Akleh was well known, it will force the ICC to react and not just turn blind eye to it. Al-Jazeera has assigned a legal team to refer the killing to the ICC. Al-Udaini hopes this legal team can deliver justice.
“We hope that they can do something. They can put pressure on the whole world, the international community, and the ICC. Then they can hold Israel accountable for killing Shireen. We hope that maybe because she is a veteran journalist and well-known person who worked for Al-Jazeera as well, maybe this thing will make a difference to the whole world.”
Al-Udaini has very little hope that the ICC will deliver justice as it has often failed to do so when called upon.
“We are just disappointed. We as Palestinians feel disappointed at the whole world and especially the ICC. So many cases are in the ICC. I remember that once they said that Israel commits these crimes, but nothing happened. No one was presented to the ICC or even held accountable for these crimes. We hope that this time they are going to make a difference and they are going to stop the Israeli crimes. I hope that this is going to be the last crime that they commit against Palestinians.”
The hope is that the OHCHR report as well as Akleh being well-known, it could force the ICC to act. Al-Udaini has called on the international community to stand behind Al-Jazeera. Unity is needed to get the justice the Palestinian people need.
