On Wednesday, Israeli forces shot dead Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
She was hit by a live bullet on Wednesday while covering Israeli raids in the city of Jenin and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to the ministry and Al Jazeera journalists.
She was declared dead at the hospital, the ministry said.
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The circumstances of her death were not clear, but videos of the incident show that Abu Akleh was shot in the head, said Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim.
“What we know for now is that the Palestinian Health Ministry has announced her death. Shireen Abu Akleh, was covering the events unfolding in Jenin, specifically an Israeli raid the city, which is north of the occupied West Bank, when she was hit by a bullet to the head,” Ibrahim said, speaking from the Palestinian city of Ramallah.
“As you can imagine, this is a shock to the journalists who have been working with her.”
Speaking through tears, Ibrahim said Abu Akleh was a “very well respected journalist” who has been working with Al Jazeera since the beginning of the second Palestinian Intifada in 2000.
Who Is Shireen Abu Akleh?
Shireen Abu Akleh was born in 1971 in Jerusalem. She belonged to a Christian family.
She attended secondary school Beit Hanina early in his career.
Shireen then matriculated at the Jordan University of Science and Technology to study architecture.
After this she transferred to Yarmouk University from where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism.
Shortly after she returned to Palestine.
Abu Akleh worked as a journalist for Radio Monte Carlo and Voice of Palestine.
She additionally worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Her career further includes work with Amman Satellite Channel and MIFTAH.
Shireen began working with Al-Jazeera media house as a journalist. She became well known as a reporter on their Arabic-language channel.
She lived and worked in East Jerusalem reporting on all major events related to Palestine including the Second Intifada, and additionally covering Israeli politics.
Abu Akleh continued in her role with Al Jazeera for 25 years before she was killed by Israeli forces in 2022, she was 51 years old.
Akleh was present at a raid which the Israeli military stated was targeted at capturing “terror suspects”. She was shot in the head by IDF.
Abu Akleh was wearing a press vest when she was killed.