- Palestinian Authority says reporter Shirin Abu Aqleh killed by Israeli fire to the head; military claims Palestinians may have shot her during clashes
A veteran Palestinian journalist was shot dead by Israeli soldiers during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin on Sunday morning, the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry said.
Al-Jazeera correspondent Shirin Abu Aqleh, 51, was shot in the head while covering the Israeli army operation in the city, which has seen high tensions in recent days. In footage from the scene, Abu Aqleh can be seen wearing a press vest and helmet.
According to the Israeli military, troops entered Jenin’s flashpoint refugee camp and the nearby town of Burqin to arrest terror suspects.
“During the operation in Jenin refugee camp, suspects fired an enormous amount of gunfire at troops and hurled explosive devices. [Israeli] forces fired back. Hits were identified,” the Israeli army said in a statement.
The army said it was “looking into the possibility that journalists were injured, potentially by Palestinian gunfire.” Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address By signing up, you agree to the terms
A Palestinian health official dismissed that possibility in a phone call.
“The assessment is that she was killed by Israeli gunfire, and witnesses at the scene attest to this as well,” the health official said.
Abu Aqleh was a widely known and respected Palestinian journalist. A longtime veteran of the pan-Arab network, Abu Aqleh’s post made her a familiar face for millions of viewers.
Tensions have rocked Jenin in recent weeks. Palestinian terrorists from the city and surrounding villages crossed the fence into Israel to commit terror attacks, part of a bloody terror wave that has left 19 dead since late March.
Israeli forces have responded by cracking down in the Jenin area, stepping up raids and arrests in an attempt to restore order. The security operations often led to armed clashes with local Palestinians.
According to the PA Health Ministry, 30 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops since late March. Some committed violent terror attacks, while others participated in clashes with soldiers. Still others — such as a near-blind Palestinian woman near Bethlehem — appeared to have been unarmed bystanders.