Transparency International calls for accountability for shooting of Palestinian journalists in Jenin

On Wednesday 11 May, two Al Jazeera journalists were shot while reporting on a raid by Israeli forces into the occupied West Bank town of Jenin. Palestinian-American Shireen Abu Akleh was shot in the head and died soon afterward. Ali Samoudi was hospitalised after being shot in the back but is in stable condition.

Kinda Hattar, Transparency International Middle East and North Africa regional advisor, said:

“A free, independent and safe media are essential to report on wrongdoing, corruption and violence. Reporters are a critical ally to hold power to account. Yet no one has been held responsible for 81 per cent of journalist murders in the last 10 years. We cannot allow this to happen to Shireen Abu Akleh.

“We call for a swift and transparent inquiry into the shootings of Abu Akleh and Ali Samoudi. The perpetrators of such a violation must face consequences, and concrete steps must be taken to protect all journalists reporting on violence in occupied territories.”