Iran Condemns Israeli Killing of Al Jazeera Reporter
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the deliberate shooting at Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli military forces that resulted in the death of the reporter in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement on Wednesday, Saeed Khatibzadeh strongly condemned the killing of Abu Akleh at the hands of the Zionist regime’s forces.
Offering his condolences to the late journalist’s family, Al Jazeera, and reporters committed to the cause of Palestine and holy al-Quds across the world, the Iranian spokesman decried such a criminal act by the Zionist regime as a testimony to Israel’s disregard for the role and place of the media, the press and the journalists in enlightening the public opinion.
Contrary to the false claims by the Zionism’s propaganda machine and its affiliated media, the Israeli regime is afraid of accurate news and stories and has gone over the limit by killing the journalists, Khatibzadeh added.
The Iranian spokesman called on international organizations, human rights institutions and international media unions to conduct an independent investigation into the martyrdom of Shireen Abu Akleh, stressing that the Zionist regime must be held accountable for such a crime.
Khatibzadeh also slammed the proposal for the Zionist regime’s investigation into the case as an attempt to shift the blame on others and shirk responsibility, saying the proposal lacks any validity.
Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. The 51-year-old was covering an Israeli army raid on the Jenin refugee camp when she was shot in the face by a single bullet, despite wearing a press vest.
Another Palestinian journalist, Ali al-Samoudi, was wounded in the back but is in stable condition.
Al Jazeera, in a statement, said Abu Akleh was “assassinated in cold blood” and called on the international community to hold Israeli forces responsible.