The UN stated that it is “appalled” at the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank, adding that it called for “an independent investigation” into the matter.
“We are appalled at the killing of journalist #ShireenAbuAkleh while covering an Israeli military operation in Jenin, #Palestine,” Ravina Shamdasani from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a Twitter post.
She said the UN Human Rights Office is on the ground verifying the facts.
Abu Akleh, aged 51, was shot dead while covering an Israeli raid in the city of Jenin.
Another journalist, Ali Al-Samoudi, was also shot in the back, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Shamdasani said, “We urge an independent, transparent investigation into her killing. Impunity must end.”
Al Jazeera television accused Israeli forces of deliberately assassinating Abu Akleh “in cold blood,” earlier on Wednesday.
The Doha-based television network expressed: “We pledge to prosecute the perpetrators legally, no matter how hard they try to cover up their crime, and bring them to justice.”
