South Africa and the state of Iran strongly condemned the deliberate Israeli killing of iconic Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, while covering Israeli raids in the city.
The Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa (DIRCO), Zane Dangor, said in a statement that “The targeting of journalists in the occupied territories, and in conflict zones like Ukraine and Afghanistan, appears to be part of a pattern of silencing the free press, and is an outright contravention of international law. In a situation of occupation, protest action is one of the few ways in which Palestinians can make their voices heard.”
“International human rights law obligates the occupying power to allow for the freedom of expression and protests. In other conflict zones, civilians and other non-combatants must be protected in keeping with the Principle of Distinction and other protective measures of the Geneva Conventions,” Dangor added.
The ability of journalists to cover events as they take place is essential, and efforts to intimidate and assassinate members of the media cannot be allowed to continue with impunity, said the statement.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, condemned in a press statement the targeting of Al Jazeera reporter Abu Akleh, “who was committed to the cause of Palestine and the holy city of al-Quds (Jerusalem).”
Khatibzadeh described this “criminal act” by the Israeli occupation forces as “clear proof of ]the Israeli occupation’s] lack of commitment to the role and place of the press, the media and journalists in promoting awareness for the public opinion.”
He urged international organizations, human rights bodies and international media unions to conduct an independent investigation into Abu Akleh’s killing and demanded that Israel be held accountable for its crime.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=19042
