MEAA House Committees' statements in solidarity over the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
We, the ABC MEAA House Committee, stand in solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues and condemn the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Al Jazeera has stated the killing was committed by the Israeli Defence Forces. She was shot in the head while performing her duties reporting on an Israeli military action and was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media. The Al Jazeera producer accompanying her, Ali Samoudi, was shot in the back during the same incident.
Statements by the many journalists working in a group alongside the pair reveal that Abu Akleh was deliberately targeted. Like the other journalists, she was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media because they were wearing blue helmets and blue body protection that was clearly labelled “PRESS”.
All parties to a conflict must observe that journalists and media workers are civilians. Targeting them, especially when they are clearly identifiable as press, is a violation of international law, and violators must be brought to justice.
Our international peak union body, the International Federation of Journalists, last month complained to the International Criminal Court about systemic attacks on working journalists by Israeli forces in the occupied territories, incldung the killing by snipers of four reporters in Gaza and the bombing of media offices in Gaza last year.
We endorse the IFJ’s recent decision to add Abu Akleh’s killing to its referral to the court.
Journalism is not a crime.
Australian Associated Press (AAP)
The Australian Associated Press MEAA House Committee condemns the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and wounding of her fellow Palestinian journalist, Ali al-Samoudi while covering a raid by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
Abu Akleh was shot in the head and al-Samoudi in the back while performing their duties and were clearly identifiable as members of the working media, wearing blue helmets and blue body protection that was clearly labelled “PRESS”.
All parties to a conflict must observe that journalists and media workers are civilians. Targeting them is a violation of international law, and violators must be brought to justice.
Journalism is not a crime.
National Freelance Committee
We the MEAA National Freelance Committee stand in solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues and condemn the killing by Israeli forces of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
She was shot in the head while performing her duties reporting on an Israeli military action and was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media.
The Al Jazeera producer accompanying her, Ali Samoudi, was shot in the back during the same incident.
Journalists who were working in a group alongside the pair say Abu Akleh was deliberately targeted. Like the other journalists, she was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media because they were wearing blue helmets and blue body protection that was clearly labelled “PRESS”.
All parties to a conflict must observe that journalists and media workers are civilians. Targeting them, especially when they are clearly identifiable as press, is a violation of international law, and violators must be brought to justice.
Our international peak union body, the International Federation of Journalists, last month complained to the International Criminal Court about systemic attacks on working journalists by Israeli forces in the occupied territories, including the killing and maiming by snipers of four reporters in Gaza and the bombing of media offices in Gaza last year.
We endorse the IFJ’s recent decision to add Abu Akleh’s killing to its referral to the court.
Journalism is not a crime.
Guardian Australia
We the Guardian Australia MEAA House Committee stand in solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues and condemn the killing by Israeli forces of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
She was shot in the head while performing her duties reporting on an Israeli military action and was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media.
The Al Jazeera producer accompanying her, Ali Samoudi, was shot in the back during the same incident.
Journalists who were working in a group alongside the pair say Abu Akleh was deliberately targeted. Like the other journalists, she was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media because they were wearing blue helmets and blue body protection that was clearly labelled “PRESS”.
All parties to a conflict must observe that journalists and media workers are civilians. Targeting them, especially when they are clearly identifiable as press, is a violation of international law, and violators must be brought to justice.
Our international peak union body, the International Federation of Journalists, last month complained to the International Criminal Court about systemic attacks on working journalists by Israeli forces in the occupied territories, including the killing and maiming by snipers of four reporters in Gaza and the bombing of media offices in Gaza last year.
We endorse the IFJ’s recent decision to add Abu Akleh’s killing to its referral to the court.
Journalism is not a crime.
Nine Publishing
We the Nine Publishing National MEAA House Committee stand in solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues and condemn the killing by Israeli forces of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
She was shot in the head while performing her duties reporting on an Israeli military action and was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media.
The Al Jazeera producer accompanying her, Ali Samoudi, was shot in the back during the same incident.
Statements by the many journalists working in a group alongside the pair reveal that Abu Akleh was deliberately targeted. Like the other journalists, she was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media because they were wearing blue helmets and blue body protection that was clearly labelled “PRESS”.
All parties to a conflict must observe that journalists and media workers are civilians. Targeting them, especially when they are clearly identifiable as press, is a violation of international law and a war crime, and those who commit such crimes must be brought to justice.
Our international peak union body, the International Federation of Journalists, last month complained to the International Criminal Court about systemic attacks on working journalists by Israeli forces in the occupied territories, including the killing by snipers of four reporters in Gaza and the bombing of media offices in Gaza last year.
We endorse the IFJ’s recent decision to add Abu Akleh’s killing to its referral to the court. We call upon Australia’s political leaders to support the ICC, to which Australia is a party, in its investigation of these incidents.
Journalism is not a crime.
The Conversation
We, the MEAA House Committee at The Conversation, stand in solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues and condemn the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Al Jazeera reports she was shot by Israeli forces while performing her duties reporting on an Israeli military action and was clearly identifiable as a member of the working media. All parties to a conflict must observe that journalists and media workers are civilians. Targeting them, especially when they are clearly identifiable as press, is a violation of international law, and violators must be brought to justice.
