Ammon News - A prominent, hard-working journalist who worked for quarter a century covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is exactly what Shireen Abu Akleh will also be remembered for.
Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, a Palestinian-American journalist from Jerusalem working with Al Jazeera, was born in April 03, 1971 in East Jerusalem, who obtained American citizenship after living in the United States.
Abu Akleh got a degree in print journalism from Yarmouk University in Jordan. After graduation, she returned to Palestine and worked as a journalist for media outlets like Radio Monte Carlo and Voice of Palestine before she joined Al-Jazeera in 1997 and became one of the very first field journalists in the country.
Her reports and known sign offs grew popular among Palestinians, making her a well-known reporter for Al Jazeera network, especially during the Second Intifada, where she covered most events taking place in that era, most particularity the 2002 Jenin battle and the several Israeli wars on the Gaza Strip.
Despite stating that she felt she was being targeted by Israeli forces and settlers, Abu Akleh continued her work as journalist in Palestine until her death in 2022.
On May 11, while covering an Israeli army assault in the northern occupied West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, Abu Akleh was murdered by a bullet to the head fired by an Israeli sniper. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.
Al Jazeera producer, Ali Samoudi, who was with Abu Akleh on the scene, survived a bullet in the back.
Abu Akleh’s murder caused a shock among Palestinians everywhere in the world as she was considered a veteran, iconic journalist who worked for over 25 years, covering events taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories, mainly the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Ever since Abu Akleh was killed, tributes in her name have been seen and made in a way for the Palestinians to keep her memory alive after she spent her life advocating for Palestinians, exposing Israeli occupation regime crimes, to the point where she was even murdered by Israeli gunfire while she was reporting an Israeli atrocity in Jenin.
Drawings, graffiti, and murals in dedication of Abu Akleh with slogans of the phrases and known sign offs can easily be seen in the West Bank cities and even in Arab areas inside Israel such as Nazareth, as well as in Arab countries like Tunisia.
Weeks after Abu Akleh’s killing, the Ramallah Municipality named after her the street where Al Jazeera office in Ramallah is located and where Abu Akleh worked.
On May 9, the Popular Art Center in Ramallah organized a memorial event to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Abu Akleh’s murder. The event took place in Ramallah’s Cultural Palace and was attended by her family, friends, colleagues and people who appreciated her and valued her work.
Speaking to WAFA, Abu Akleh’s brother, Anton, described his late sister as “honest and hardworking, and respectful of everyone.”
“Shireen was a simple human being, honest, and took her studies very seriously, and respectful and helpful of everyone,” he said.
“We can see how much of an impact her name has; and I hope that everyone remembers her.”
Lina Abu Akleh, Shireen’s niece, who was named on 2022 TIME 100 Next list for her remarkable efforts in holding Israel accountable for the killing of her aunt, spoke to WAFA about how the killing of her dear aunt still pains the entire family one year on.
“It’s been a year since we lost our dead aunt, sister, friend, journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and ever since then our lives have changed completely; the one bullet that killed her has left a hole in our lives. It has changed our lives forever,” she said.
“A year on, our family is still seeking justice and accountability, and hoping that we don’t have to spend another day pursuing justice,” she continued. “We ask everyone to continue to talk about Shireen; write about Shireen and call for accountability.”
Shireen Abu Akleh was a known journalist, but her niece spoke about how much of a decent human being her aunt was.
“Shireen was empathetic, kind and the humblest person that I’ve met. She was the journalist that she was because of her empathy and her compassion. And that’s what made her unique.”
Walid al-Omari, a renowned Palestinian journalist, writer, Al Jazeera Bureau Chief in Palestine who worked with Shireen Abu Akleh during her time in the network, described her as a “household name, not only in Palestine, but in the world.”
“Shireen was a household name everywhere, not only in Palestine, but in the whole world. She was iconic,” he said. “She was professional as a journalist; and was a very polite human being and helpful all the time.”
“Our loss is very huge. We cannot bridge the fact that she left and it’s not easy. Every day we feel sad. The grieve is very deep after her killing.”
Time goes by and Palestinians believe, and will absolutely keep believing, that Abu Akleh was a leading female journalist, an inspiring household name who gave them a voice that was heard all over the world. She will live in their memory and hearts forever.
comment replay 