Background

Action Required

Model Template

Recipient Addresses

Background

On 11 May 2022, 51-year-old Shireen Abu Aqleh, a journalist for Al-Jazeera, who was a well-recognised face in the Arab World, was murdered by Israeli soldiers. She became known particularly for her reporting of the second intifada in Palestine. She was shot in the head by Israeli snipers in what witnesses say was a targeted attack. The snipers then continued to fire, after already wounding another journalist, Ali Al-Samoudi, and attempting to kill two further journalists. They also wounded two other people in the shooting. The witnesses described the shooting as an assassination, done in cold blood, due to her many years of exposing crimes of the Israeli military.

Almost immediately, the Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennet, tweeted a video of Palestinian militants firing around a street corner, claiming it was evidence that Palestinians killed her. However, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem disputed this, even posting a video showing that it was impossible for the Palestinian gunmen to be responsible. The apartheid regime has since backed down on this false claim. However, Al-Jazeera has been deeply concerned with the way in which the Western press has tried to cover the story, failing to mention that this was a deliberate killing.

The heinous crimes of the Israeli army continued in the aftermath of Shireen Abu Aqleh’s killing. They attacked her funeral, beating up mourners present and throwing smoke grenades into the church where it was taking place, whilst Shireen’s coffin was being carried. The military also tried to ban Muslim mourners from attending the funeral.

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has called on the International Criminal Court to investigate and has rejected the Israeli government offer to be involved in the investigation.

Action Required

1. Write to your MPs, urging them to condemn the murder of Shireen Abu Aqleh, and pressure the government to support an ICC investigation into her killing. (Template letter below)

2. Attend the anti-apartheid march, Saturday 14 May 2022, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, assemble 12pm, Portland Place, by the BBC, London W1A 1AA

3. Please forward any responses you might have to us at info@ihrc.org, so that we can continue to develop this campaign further.

4. Share this alert and encourage others to take part.

5. Please share verified stories and information.

6. Keep visiting our website (https://www.ihrc.org.uk/) to see any updates on this case.

Model Template

[Your name]

[Your address]

[Date]

Dear [Insert name of your local MP]

I am writing following the shocking and brutal murder of Al-Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Aqleh, and the attempts to shoot other journalists in the Occupied West-Bank, by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Despite the video evidence and eye-witness statements stating clearly that this was a targeted attack against Shireen and other journalists at the scene, the Western media and most politicians have mostly attempted to deflect blame away from the IDF. They claimed that the cause of her killing is un-determined. This response is unacceptable and seeks to cover up the mass human rights violations perpetrated by the apartheid regime.

The United Kingdom has a responsibility to speak up in support of the Palestinian people, as it was through the Balfour Declaration that this problem first arose. As one of your constituents who feels passionately about this terrible injustice, I request that you unequivocally condemn the IDF for this brutal murder and demand that the International Criminal Court be allowed to investigate this case without any interference from Israel. I hope that you will take this stand for human rights and help bring justice to the people of Palestine who are already suffering many other injustices simply by existing.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Yours Sincerely

[Your signature]

[Your name]

Recipient Addresses

You can write to your MP at the address:

[MP’s name]

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Alternatively, you can email your MP, email addresses are available at:

https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/