Over 100 celebrities and artists have signed a statement calling for accountability over Israel’s killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Eric Cantona, Ilhan Omar are among over 100 celebrities condemning Israeli killing of Al Jazeera reporter
Actors Susan Sarandon, Steve Coogan, Tilda Swinton, Mark Ruffalo and Miriam Margolyes, filmmakers Ken Loach, Mike Leigh and Asif Kapadia and former footballer Eric Cantona were among scores of high profile figures to condemn the killing.
Abu Akhleh was shot dead by Israeli forces while covering a raid last week in the Occupied West Bank city of Jenin.
The artists said they were “deeply disturbed” by the killing of the journalist, who had arrived in Jenin “wearing a clearly marked press vest”.
“As we grieve her loss, we call for full accountability for the perpetrators of this crime and everyone involved in authorising it,” it said.
On Tuesday, it was reported in Haaretz that Israeli military forces would not investigate the killing due to it concluding that there was “no suspicion of a criminal act” that would require investigating soldiers as suspects.
The celebrities’ statement went on to condemn armed Israeli forces beating and attacking Palestinian mourners and pallbearers during the journalist’s funeral last Friday outside the hospital, nearly causing the coffin to fall to the ground.
“What are we to make of the brazenness and cruelty of this attack on human dignity?” the statement added.
“The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh is a grave breach of international humanitarian law and an attack on journalism and freedom of expression.
UN and international human rights experts have said that it may constitute a war crime and should be subject to an independent, transparent international investigation.”
Israel has for decades been documented killing and maiming journalists.
In April, a formal complaint was filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging that Israel’s “systematic targeting” of Palestinian journalists and its failure to investigate their killings amounted to war crimes.
At least 46 Palestinian journalists have been killed sisnce the Second Intifida in 2000, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
“These crimes are part of a pattern of violence, harassment and intimidation against Palestinian journalists who are shining a light on what Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Israel’s leading human rights organisation, B’Tselem, have described as a system of apartheid imposed on the Palestinian people,” the statement continues.
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The letter goes on to accuse “Western powers” of providing “diplomatic cover” for Israeli violations of international law and norms.
“It has not gone unnoticed that while our governments have rushed to impose blanket boycotts and sanctions in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of the Ukraine and the cruelty of its attacks on a civilian population, the same governments continue to fund and shield Israel’s decades-long occupation and grave human rights violations against Palestinians.”
A small group of politicians have called on the US government to investigate Abu Akleh’s killing, urging the Biden administration to restrict military aid to Israel over the tragedy.
Meanwhile in the UK, a handful of MPs also called for an inquiry during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on Monday.
It was also reported that, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota on Wednesday denounced the killing of veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and called for Israel to be held accountable.
“She was killed by the Israeli military, after making her presence as a journalist clearly known,” the progressive lawmaker tweeted. “We provide Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid annually with no restrictions. What will it take for accountability for these human rights violations?”
Abu Akleh, a longtime journalist for Al Jazeera who was a household name throughout the region, was shot dead in the West Bank on Wednesday while covering Israeli raids in the city of Jenin.
Al Jazeera said in a statement that Israeli forces killed Abu Akleh, condemning it as “a blatant murder, violating international laws and norms.” The news outlet also said that Abu Akleh was wearing press gear that clearly identified her as a journalist when she was killed. Eyewitness reports from her colleagues at the scene and the Palestinian National Authority also said Israeli forces shot and killed Abu Akleh.
Israeli officials did not claim responsibility for the killing. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Abu Akleh could have been shot by Palestinians. Later, Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Aviv Kochavi said it’s currently “not possible” to determine who she was killed by, and said the matter will be investigated, according to CNN.
Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan also spoke out against the murder on Wednesday.
