Qatar slams 'state-sponsored terrorism' following Israeli killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

Qatar condemned the Israeli assassination of Palestinian Al Jazeera Senior Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in a statement on Wednesday morning. 

The ministry of foreign affairs labelled the killing of Abu Akleh – who was shot in the head by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank on Wednesday - a “horrific crime” and a “blatant attack on freedom of media and expression”.

Doha also condemned Israel's attack on Ali al-Samoudi - an Al Jazeera producer working alongside Abu Akleh - who was left injured but in stable condition, according to Palestinian health authorities.

“Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the assassination… of Sherine Abu Akleh… and the injury of journalist Ali al-Samoudi… and considers them a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

بيان | قطر تدين بأشدّ العبارات اغتيال قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي الإعلامية شيرين أبو عاقلة

🔗 لقراءة البيان : https://t.co/2o5nzdKnQ0#الخارجية_القطرية pic.twitter.com/5A9JZgP1dP

— الخارجية القطرية (@MofaQatar_AR) May 11, 2022

The ministry called on the international community to “bring those responsible to justice” and to “take urgent action to prevent the occupation authorities from committing further violations”.

Similarly, Qatar's Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah Al Khater described the incident as "state sponsored Israeli terrorism" that "must STOP", noting "unconditional support to Israel must END."

Qatar’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs Dr Mohammed Al-Khulaifi also called for “action to protect journalists”.

“The occupation cannot tolerate press censorship that reveals the reality of its arbitrary practices on the ground in Palestine, so it assassinated the prominent journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in a heinous crime,” Al-Khulaifi tweeted.

Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, sister of Qatar’s ruling Emir and one of Qatar's leading voices for art and culture, also took to social media, to give her condolences to the “journalist assassinated in cold blood” after dedicating “her career to covering the truth”.

 

 

 

 

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“For decades [Israel] have killed and murdered innocent civilians claiming lands of their ancestors as their own… targeting journalists for sharing… the realities on the ground is unacceptable” Sheikha Almayassa wrote.

Abu Akleh was killed in Jenin City in the occupied West Bank where she had been reporting on an Israeli security raid, according to Al Jazeera.

Unlike some Arab countries, Qatar has not normalised relations with Israel.

Last October, the country's Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani made clear that Arab-Israeli normalisation deals were incompatible with Doha's policies.