The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday “strongly condemned” the murder of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank last week during a raid by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
In a rare unanimous statement, the 15 members of the Council also called for “an immediate, thorough, transparent, and fair and impartial investigation” into the death of the 51-year-old Palestinian American journalist. Furthermore, the statement stressed the need to ensure the accountability of those responsible for Akhleh’s death.
The UNSC adopted a U.S.-Norway-UAE drafted Press Statement condemning the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and calling for an investigation. The U.S. again expresses condolences to her family and underscores the critical role of journalists and importance of media freedom. pic.twitter.com/2y5KO6wmS0
— U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) May 14, 2022
Reiterating, that “journalists should be protected as civilians” during conflicts, the Council stated that it will continue to monitor the situation regarding Akleh’s death closely.
On May 11, Akleh was shot in the head while covering a clash been the IDF and Palestinians in Jenin and despite wearing a press jacket that identified her as a journalist. While Al Jazeera and the Palestinian Authority (PA) blamed Israel for killing her, Israeli leaders have instead accused Palestinian militants.
However, the IDF’s claim that Akleh was shot by a Palestinian militant was refuted by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem. Using geolocation, B’Tselem concluded that the gunfire of the Palestinian militants shown in the video released by the IDF “cannot be the gunfire” that killed Akleh.
Video shows Israeli riot police clashing with mourners at the funeral for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed two days earlier. At one point, the tussling becomes so intense that her coffin almost topples to the ground. https://t.co/TdJwueeOAU pic.twitter.com/HvK8rnFCe8
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 13, 2022
While the UNSC did not directly blame Israel for Akleh’s death, the statement was a rare instance of consensus, given that members usually disagree on matters brought to the floor of the Council, especially by five permanent members who use their veto power. For instance, members have disagreed on issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and humanitarian aid to Syria.
Also on Friday, Israeli police assaulted mourners during Akleh’s funeral. Videos of the funeral showed Israeli police beating several Palestinians who attended the funeral.
However, Israel argued that the measures were taken as a response to the ruckus caused by some of those present at the funeral, saying its forces had to intervene after miscreants started pelting rocks at the police. Furthermore, the police also noted that several people refused to put Akleh’s body in a hearse and insisted on carrying the coffin by foot, which was against an agreement reached between the police and Akleh’s family.
According to a report by the Washington Post, the standoff between the police and the mourners “prompted Akleh’s brother […] to beseech the crowd to let the hearse through.”
We were deeply troubled by the images of Israeli police intruding into the funeral procession of Palestinian American Shireen Abu Akleh. Every family deserves to lay their loved ones to rest in a dignified and unimpeded manner.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 13, 2022
However, the scenes of Israeli forces beating mourners with batons drew widespread condemnation, including from Israel’s close allies like the United States and France. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington is “deeply troubled by the images of Israeli police intruding into the funeral procession” of Akleh. “Every family deserves to lay their loved ones to rest in a dignified and unimpeded manner,” he added.
Similarly, French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said that he was “shocked and appalled at the unacceptable” violence that took place during the funeral.