Dozens of people have been killed and nearly 100 others injured by Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip this week, coinciding with the first anniversary of Shireen Abu Akleh’s death.
Speaking in an interview, Jerusalem-based historian and archaeologist Abeer Zayaad said justice had not been delivered in Abu Akleh’s case while Israeli aggression only worsened in the year since the Al Jazeera journalist was murdered in the line of duty.
“There was a lot of evidence how they shot her and how they killed her but this is something continuously happening and no one is [giving] justice for a Palestinian who was killed by the Israeli army, by Zionists who are shooting people,” she said.
Zayaad is currently visiting the coastal city of Durban as part of a tour of South Africa. She is scheduled to address Durbanites at the Al-Ansaar Hall Friday evening.
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Humanitarian concerns
Israeli air strikes pounded the besieged Gaza Strip for much of this week. Since Tuesday, 29 people – including six children, three women and two elderly – have been killed. More than 90 were injured and border closures meant 292 people were prevented from accessing medical attention not available in Gaza, according to human rights groups.
This prompted human rights organisations Gisha, Adalah, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, and Al Mezan to send a missive to several Israeli officials. In it, they urged Israel to immediately stop harming civilians and enable humanitarian access.
Zayaad, meanwhile, said many more people will be killed as there were no consequences for Abu Akleh’s death.
“Shireen was not the first Palestinian journalist killed by the Israelis and there is no action to stop this kind of crime. We will see others be killed.”
