Al Jazeera Journalist Dies With Gunshot Wound To Face While Covering Israeli Attack On West Bank

Shireen Abu Akleh. (Twitter/@ShireenNasri)

JAKARTA - Israeli forces have shot and killed a veteran Al Jazeera journalist in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, was covering the Israeli army attack on the Jenin refugee camp, when she was shot in the face by a bullet. Another Palestinian journalist, Ali al-Samoudi, was injured in the back but is in stable condition.

The Health Ministry said journalists were hit by Israeli fire. In the video footage of the incident, Abu Akleh can be seen wearing a blue flak jacket with the words 'Press;', reports Al Jazeera May 11.

Citing Reuters, a Palestinian official said Shireen Abu Akleh had been "killed" by Israeli forces while reporting on the attack in the city of Jenin, which has seen intensified army attacks in recent weeks as violence escalated.

The Israeli army confirmed it had carried out the operation Wednesday morning at the Jenin refugee camp, but denied that they were deliberately targeting journalists.

"(Soldiers) certainly didn't take aim at journalists," said a military official.

The army said there was an exchange of fire between the suspect and security forces. They are "investigating the incident and looking into the possibility that the journalist was shot by Palestinian gunmen.

Regarding this incident, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said, Israel offered a joint investigation with the Palestinians through a post on Twitter.

We have offered the Palestinians a joint pathological investigation into the sad death of journalist Shireen Abu Aqla. Journalists must be protected in conflict zones and we all have a responsibility to get to the truth.

— - Yair Lapid🟠 (@yairlapid) May 11, 2022