An Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Aqleh , was killed after being shot in the head during clashes between Palestinian militiamen and the Israeli army in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank .
The reporter was considered an information veteran in the area and had worked for Al Jazeera since 1997 . The pan-Arab broadcaster, based in Qatar, said she was " killed in cold blood " by Israeli forces in what it called "a horrendous crime that breaks international norms".
According to the Palestinian agency Wafa, which cites the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the 51-year-old "died after being hit by the occupation army".
The president of the Palestinian National Authority Abu Mazen condemned "the crime of execution by the Israeli occupation forces". The Israeli government, says the leader, is "fully responsible for this heinous crime": it is part "of the daily policy pursued by the occupation against our people, their land and their holy places".
According to Qatar's Foreign Minister Lolwah Al Khater, the reporter was shot "in the face" while wearing a vest that clearly indicated that she was a member of the press . "The Israeli occupation killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh with a blow to the face while wearing a 'press' jacket and helmet. She was in the Jenin refugee camp following their attack."
Another journalist was also injured but his condition is not serious. The man, who works for the "Al Quds" network, said that together with his colleague from Al Jazeera he was with a group of other reporters in the "vicinity of the UNRWA schools near the Jenin camp", and that "all they wore helmets and journalist uniforms ". Then the group would be targeted "directly by the occupation forces".
BENNETT: "WITHOUT PROOF" - "The Palestinian president accuses Israel without solid evidence", said Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett : "Based on the data available to us, there is a probability not to be ruled out that armed Palestinians shooting wild have caused the painful death of the journalist ".
Bennett claims he proposed to carry out an autopsy and a joint investigation with the Palestinian side immediately. '' But so far we have received a rejection, '' he noted. As for the army incursions into Jenin, from where several Palestinian attackers have departed in recent weeks, Bennett reiterated that Israel "remains determined to break the terrorist chain" and defend the safety of Israeli citizens.
(Unioneonline / D)