Witnesses describe what they noticed on the day Shireen Abu Akleh was killed and why Israel’s investigation is incorrect.
Shireen Abu Akleh was killed over 4 months in the past. Greater than seven separate investigations by media, human rights organisations, the Palestinian authorities, and the UN say it was Israeli forces who shot and killed her. The USA says she was “probably” killed by Israeli forces. Israel doesn't. We hear from Palestinian journalists who had been there when Shireen was killed and from individuals who understand how Israel runs their investigations.
On this episode:
- Shatha Hanaysha, freelance journalist, Center East Eye
- Mujahed AlSa’di, freelance journalist
- Dror Sadot (@Dror_Sadot), a spokeswoman for the Israeli rights group B’Tselem
- Dan Owen, researcher at Yesh Din and the creator of the place paper Investigating Themselves.
Episode credit:
Host: Halla Mohieddeen
This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Negin Owliaei with Ruby Zaman, Chloe Okay. Li, Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is our Head of Audio.
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Full episode transcript:
This transcript was created utilizing AI. It’s been reviewed by people, nevertheless it would possibly comprise errors. Please tell us if in case you have any corrections or questions, our e-mail is TheTake@aljazeera.internet.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
Halla Mohieddeen: Hello, Halla Mohieddeen right here! Immediately we're again from a summer season hiatus. Within the subsequent few months, you received’t be listening to from Malika Bilal as usually; she is out for a bit on maternity go away. However she left some tales we'll hearken to within the subsequent few weeks.
Now, let’s begin the present.
Halla Mohieddeen: Shireen Abu Akleh was killed nearly 4 months in the past now. Within the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin. She was there together with her press vest and helmet to do her job, to cowl the information.
Shatha Hanaysha: First. They shoot the constructing. Then they shoot Ali. Then they shoot Shireen and so they nonetheless, taking pictures to me. They making an attempt to shoot on a regular basis. There may be taking pictures come.
Halla Mohieddeen: And proper there, subsequent to Shireen, was Shatha Hanaysha. Now, she has one request.
Shatha Hanaysha: Show the taking pictures. It’s for us, for the journalist, for Shireen. We'd like the justice.
Halla Mohieddeen: At this level, there have been half a dozen investigations, all pointing to the truth that Israeli snipers focused Shireen. However neither the Israeli military nor the American authorities have come to that very same conclusion – not definitively – not but. So, in keeping with Shireen’s household, Al Jazeera, Shatha, and everybody who beloved her and watched her across the Arabic-speaking world – there’s extra to be accomplished.
Newsreel: The concentrating on of journalists in battle zones is taken into account a struggle crime.
Halla Mohieddeen: So, as we speak we’re taking a look at what occurred with the Israeli investigation. Monday, we’ll take a look at the American one to seek out out what’s lacking and what many individuals suppose went incorrect.
Halla Mohieddeen: I’m Halla Mohieddeen and that is The Take.
Shatha Hanaysha: That day 11 Could, I do not forget that day very clear.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Shatha Hanaysha: As a result of I keep in mind after I noticed Shireen.
Halla Mohieddeen: Shatha Hanaysha is a Palestinian journalist from Jenin.
Shatha Hanaysha: I work with a Palestinian web site known as Extremely Palestine and I’m a contract with Center East Eye and a few native, uh, web sites. I keep in mind, to start with, I keep in mind after I wakened that morning my colleague known as me and advised me there may be an operation in Jenin camp, get up and I get up and begin checking my telephone, making an attempt to determine what occurred. I keep in mind he requested me, do you need to go? And I advised him yeah, yeah, after all I’m coming.
Halla Mohieddeen: So, Shatha began preparing. It was nonetheless early. 5am. However she placed on her bulletproof vest marked PRESS – With the massive white capital letters on the back and front. And the matching darkish blue helmet.
Shatha Hanaysha: And I keep in mind after I arrived it was a quiet day and I requested my colleagues: the place’s the troopers? The place’s the military? The whole lot was quiet.
Halla Mohieddeen: Then the Al Jazeera staff arrived Shatha says. First, Ali Samudi, the producer.
Shatha Hanaysha: And Ali come to inform us that Shireen, she’s coming, wait a couple of minutes.
Halla Mohieddeen: So after all, they waited. Shireen Abu Akleh wasn’t only a colleague – she was Shatha’s hero. Shatha’s 29 and she or he grew up watching Shireen.
Shatha Hanaysha: Shireen. The one I at all times noticed within the TV.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Shireen Abu Akleh: Shireen Abu Akleh. Al Jazeera, Al Bireh. Palestine.
Shireen Abu Akleh Al Jazeera Ramallah, Palestine.
Shatha Hanaysha: And I at all times noticed her talking about what occurred going right here and there from camp to the town to the village round Palestine.
Halla Mohieddeen: For 25 years Shatha had been watching Shireen.
Shatha Hanaysha: After I was younger, I used to be appearing like her, talking like her, doing what she do within the TV.
Halla Mohieddeen: Recognized to the world by her well-known tagline.
Shireen Abu Akleh: Shireen Abu Akleh, Al-Jazeera, Al Quds, Falastin.
Halla Mohieddeen: It wasn’t till two years in the past that Shatha acquired to know her as … simply … Shireen.
Shatha Hanaysha: My first time I went to Shireen, I launched myself. I advised her I work as a journalist and she or he was very form with me.
Halla Mohieddeen: Then – a bit of later – she met Shireen once more.
Shatha Hanaysha: When she noticed me, she mentioned: Hello Shatha, how are you? And I used to be shocked. Oh, my God, she remembered me. And this was superb. And I keep in mind I advised my household and so they advised me: wow, she’s turn into your colleague now.
Halla Mohieddeen: Could eleventh can be the third time the 2 would meet.
Shatha Hanaysha: After which when Shireen comes we begin strolling in that aspect avenue. The whole lot was quiet. There isn't any clashes, no boys who throw stones and we begin laughing collectively, joking and I do not forget that morning, very clear as a result of I keep in mind how glad we had been all of us, and the fellows on the street they had been joking with us and so they asking us about if they will include us. And we advised ’em: no, no, it’s not secure. I ask my colleague Mujahed the place is the troopers? And he advised me, you don’t see them? And I simply moved my head a bit of bit and I noticed them.
Halla Mohieddeen: Mujahed is one other colleague. He works for a number of Arabic channels and he additionally is aware of Shireen.
Mujahed AlSa’adi: I knew about Shireen since I used to be a child – that’s 20 years now, particularly since in regards to the yr 2000, when she grew to become actually well-known for the way robust she was on Al Jazeera. She and I grew to become shut over the past three years and particularly over the past yr. She was calm. Actually skilled, actually balanced in her work. She by no means appreciated loud noises. She belonged to Palestine, and to her hometown Jerusalem. Shireen actually revered humanity.
Halla Mohieddeen: He advised us the identical story Shatha had about that morning.
Mujahed AlSa’adi: At round 5:45 within the morning we reached the world collectively the place the Israeli occupation military was conducting the raid. We waited there for some time till we met up with our colleague Shatha Hanaysheh, who’s one other journalist, and Ali Samoudi, who typically labored with Al Jazeera as a producer.
Halla Mohieddeen: They knew the place the troopers had been – however they had been making an attempt to verify if issues began to kick off the troopers noticed them. They had been fairly apparent, Shatha mentioned.
Shatha Hanaysha: We had been six individuals, six journalists, all of us carrying the vest that had an enormous press on it. And we stand there to take images, movies, to know what occurred round and it’s close to a constructing and we hear the primary shot.
Mujahed AlSa’adi: The occupation forces began taking pictures at us. And as quickly as they began taking pictures, I advised Shireen and my different colleagues, “They’re taking pictures at us! We’re the targets!”
Shatha Hanaysha: And that’s when Mujahed begin screaming and advised us that they’re taking pictures on us and advised us come right here. I advised him I can’t come due to the vest, the media vest. And I advised him the media vest is heavy.
Mujahed AlSa’adi: As quickly as I realised what was occurring, I jumped behind the wall that was subsequent to the road we had been strolling on.
Shatha Hanaysha: When the taking pictures begin, we run from that autos from the Israeli occupation autos, we run from them. After I conceal to the tree, I conceal from them. They know that we're journalists. They taking pictures us. After which I begin returning with Shireen.
Mujahed AlSa’adi: The primary bullet hit the constructing. The second bullet hit our colleague Ali. After that, I keep in mind listening to screams from Shatha. Then Shireen’s voice. She mentioned Ali had been hit. She mentioned it calmly.
Shatha Hanaysha: Then Shireen advised me that Ali acquired injured. And I’m hiding from the Israeli troopers till now I can’t keep in mind how I reached the tree.
Halla Mohieddeen: If you happen to’ve seen any of the protection of what occurred that day. You’ve seen the massive carob tree. Shireen was on one aspect and Shatha was on the opposite.
Shatha Hanaysha: I keep in mind simply standing subsequent to the tree and trying to Shireen ready her to return.
[SOUNDS OF THAT DAY]
Halla Mohieddeen: However the bullets got here first.
Mujahed AlSa’adi: The third bullet was the one which hit Shireen within the head.
Shatha Hanaysha: After which I noticed Shireen, when she fall to the bottom, I assumed perhaps she simply fall. I used to be making an attempt to succeed in Shireen, there may be taking pictures coming to us. I making an attempt to the touch Shireen there may be taking pictures come, when the man who helped us. When he tried to return from the center of the road, there may be taking pictures, and after I noticed her, she didn’t transfer ever.
Halla Mohieddeen: Finally, somebody led Shatha over a wall to security and went again for Shireen. She’d been shot within the head between her press vest and the helmet. The ambulance arrived. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced lifeless.
Shatha Hanaysha: Till now all the things I do in my life. I simply take into consideration Shireen. I take into consideration that second when she was subsequent to me within the floor. We'd like justice for her. We have to know who shoot her, who kill her, who tried to kill me, who shoot Ali, who tried to kill my colleague Mujahed who taking pictures, and who killed Shireen.
Halla Mohieddeen: For Shatha, it’s clear.
Shatha Hanaysha: The Israeli troopers taking pictures us, they noticed us. I’m very certain that they noticed us all of the bullets come they shoot to us.
Halla Mohieddeen: Mujahed additionally has little doubt.
Mujahed AlSa’adi: However there’s one other query. Who gave the order to shoot? The shooter might need simply been a soldier finishing up an order to shoot journalists, nevertheless it wasn’t his private name. Who gave the order?
Halla Mohieddeen: What did the Israelis discover out? Follow us – we’ll be proper again after the break.
Halla Mohieddeen: CNN, The New York Instances, The Washington Put up, AP, the investigative journalists at Bellingcat, the Israeli human rights group B’tselem, and the United Nations all level to Israeli troopers as those who shot Shireen.
Ravina Shamdasani is the spokesperson for the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ravina Shamdasani: All the knowledge now we have gathered, together with official documentation from the Israeli army and the Palestinian legal professional basic is in keeping with the discovering that the photographs that killed Abu and injured her colleague got here from Israeli safety forces and never from indiscriminate firing by armed Palestinians as was initially claimed by the Israeli authorities.
Halla Mohieddeen: The Palestinian Authority added they had been focused assaults.
Nida’ Ibrahim: The legal professional basic right here mentioned that they had been greater than 160 centimetres, which signifies that they had been focused to kill.
Halla Mohieddeen: They refused to cooperate in a joint investigation with Israel saying Israel was unable to analyze themselves and handed the bullet onto American authorities over the fourth of July weekend. The US State Division mentioned Israeli gunfire was quote, probably liable for Shireen Abu Akleh’s demise. However Israeli authorities declare they examined the bullet whereas it was in American custody at Israeli labs regardless of the Palestinian Authority.
Newsreel: Inconclusive. That’s the results of a long-awaited and long-disputed probe into the bullet that killed Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Could.
Halla Mohieddeen: How did this occur and why? That’s what we wished to seek out out – so we began with Dror Sadot. An Israeli who works with the Israeli rights group B’tselem.
Dror Sadot: And one of many issues we’re doing is examine circumstances of Palestinian fatalities within the west financial institution in Gaza.
Halla Mohieddeen: The primary tweet from the Israeli army on Could eleventh – a few Palestinian journalist being shot in Jenin mentioned there can be an investigation. However Dror was sceptical even earlier than that. In reality, B’tselem began their very own investigation simply moments after listening to Shireen had been shot.
Dror Sadot: Mainly after we heard experiences there was a killing in Jenin and that the journalist, that Shireen, was killed our subject researcher went to the sector and, the identical morning after the killing, the military and likewise the prime minister, then Naftali Bennett, they stored on, posting video of Palestinians taking pictures, as if these are those who killed Shireen Abu Akleh.
Halla Mohieddeen: Dror had an investigator within the subject, and as they watched this video -which was put out by the Israeli government- they despatched their investigator to that very same location the place the federal government video was shot.
Dror Sadot: So our subject researcher in Jenin went to the identical actual place. And it was far, distant and with loads of partitions within the center so it was apparent that there was no connection between this footage and the killing of Shireen.
Halla Mohieddeen: Inside hours B’Tselem had their very own diagrams, movies and article up on social media displaying that what the Israelis had been placing on the market simply wasn’t true.
Dror Sadot: It was essential for us to reply rapidly, to the scenario, to indicate how the Israel propaganda works.
Halla Mohieddeen: However going ahead, Dror didn’t have loads of religion that Israel would do a greater job. They take a look at the deaths of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army on a regular basis.
Dror Sadot: And we are able to say clearly that there is no such thing as a truthful investigation within the aspect of Israel. We now have many years of expertise, displaying that the Israeli enforcement system has nothing to do with justice or discovering out the reality.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Dan Owen: Israel simply understands that it will possibly proceed, with the occupation and what follows, which is clearly, conditions just like the one by which Shireen Abu Akleh was killed.
Halla Mohieddeen: Dan Owen can be Israeli and the creator of a report with the Israeli rights group, Yesh Din, digging into the coverage of Israel’s army with regards to these types of investigations.
Dan Owen: In lots of circumstances, now we have entry to the investigation supplies.
Halla Mohieddeen: However Dan was struck by Israel’s response on this case.
Dan Owen: I used to be truthfully shocked once they determined to not open an investigation. They’re not even making an attempt to maintain this facade anymore, a journalist, has been killed within the Israeli army says that there’s nothing to analyze.
Halla Mohieddeen: In 2011, the Israeli army modified its coverage, so any demise of a Palestinian who was killed by troopers within the West Financial institution would require the fast opening of a felony investigation. That is just for conditions that aren't of actual fight nature. However Dan says that is very subjective.
Dan Owen: That’s very a lot subjective. We do know that troopers are allowed to shoot, and even kill Palestinians once they really feel their lives or the lives of their environment are in fast hazard.
Halla Mohieddeen: And even when an investigation is opened, it’s only a preliminary investigation.
Dan Owen: This isn't a felony investigation. This may be a criticism usually, then the army advocate basic will determine whether or not or to not open an investigation. From our report relating to 2019-2020, the army acquired 273 complaints, alright, relating to violence in opposition to Palestinians or destruction of property by troopers. Out of those 273 complaints, solely 56 investigations had been opened. Now out of those 56 investigations, solely 4 led to an indictment of troopers.
Halla Mohieddeen: It’s value repeating – solely 4 led to an indictment.
Dan Owen: Generally, the investigation is usually, speaking to the sufferer or speaking to one of many troopers investigating, holding an interview with one of many troopers. It actually, it differs between case to case. However, as an entire, I can say most investigations are only a full failure. They're nothing like a felony investigation that you simply’re used to seeing inside the police.
Halla Mohieddeen: All of that is what occurs within the circumstances Dan’s checked out. Dan hasn’t appeared into the specifics of Israel’s investigation into what occurred to Shireen.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Halla Mohieddeen: We spoke with Shatha, Muhajed and different witnesses. None of them had been contacted by the Israeli authorities. The Palestinian Authority interviewed witnesses. They took measurements. They usually got here to the conclusion that Israeli forces focused Shireen. CNN had an knowledgeable take a look at the bullet markings on the Carob tree. The New York Instances visited the location 4 occasions and consulted with an acoustics knowledgeable in Montana. In addition they got here to the conclusion that Israeli shooters, not Palestinians, fired the photographs. Israel might do a extra thorough investigation Dan says.
Dan Owen: Primarily based upon principally the operation debriefing inside the unit.
Halla Mohieddeen: We spoke with a former soldier who confirmed that nearly all the things that occurs within the Israeli military is documented. As an illustration, within the case of Shireen – the Israeli military says they've the weapon that was used, they launched a number of the troopers’ physique digicam footage that they are saying is from that day.
Dan Owen: Any unit inside the military, particularly combatant ones, they've like operational instruments, which file, starting with using weapons, what number of bullets had been shot et cetera, et cetera.
Halla Mohieddeen: Dan’s seen this proof used.
Dan Owen: Then in lots of circumstances, the investigation, and even the preliminary inquiry will rely closely upon these operational debriefings, which file all this information regarding the operations.
Halla Mohieddeen: We reached out to the Israeli army, by telephone and e-mail. They didn't reply. However in a press assertion, they are saying, quote “troopers didn't recognise journalists within the space all through the exercise and definitely didn't intentionally hearth at journalists.” In addition they say their investigation shouldn't be accomplished. Of their preliminary investigation, they declare a soldier who they haven't recognized with the elite Duvdevan unit fired within the route of Shireen. They are saying he thought he was firing at gunmen close to the journalists. The MDT David autos on the scene can maintain as much as eight troopers. Primarily based on what he’s seen, Dan says the army has the means to know precisely who fired at Shireen however lack the need to analyze this taking pictures.
Dan Owen: Behind the soldier, there’s an entire system, resulting in that second the place the soldier opens hearth upon a Palestinian teen or girl or…
Halla Mohieddeen: Or a journalist.
Dan Owen: And that system is identical system that's supposed to analyze the soldier. So with regards to investigating who gave the orders who’s liable for permitting troopers to open hearth at Palestinians who will not be any sort of risk, the Israeli military is meant to analyze itself.
Halla Mohieddeen: The Duvdevan unit has been described as a secret extermination unit. Troopers usually go undercover disguising themselves as Palestinians. It was described to us by a former member of the army as “mosquito-like” – extraordinarily exact. However with regards to figuring out who shot and killed Shireen Abu-Akleh – they’ve come up quick. And Dan says that’s precisely what Israel desires. He explains this utilizing a high-profile case of an Israeli officer taking pictures a Palestinian little one within the again at shut vary in 2020.
Dan Owen: It is a high-ranking officer. It’s not a small soldier. He calmly walked outdoors the Jeep, chased the kid and shot him within the again and killed him on the spot, went again to the Jeep and drove off. So he was about to be promoted. There was a petition in opposition to that, and the petition was denied, and he acquired his promotion.
Halla Mohieddeen: We additionally spoke with an Israeli journalist who was shot by the army. He didn't need to be interviewed however he advised us that he gave up on the case within the courts. Even for members of the Israeli army who're shot and killed by different troopers – going up in opposition to your individual is hard.
Dan Owen: Nobody inside the Israeli public appears to query how come troopers open hearth so simply at one other individual, leading to demise. No one truly asks that query.
Halla Mohieddeen: Shatha, Mujahed, Al Jazeera and the household of Shireen Abu Akleh and her thousands and thousands of followers all through the Arab world haven’t given up although.
Shatha Hanaysha: We should know however I do know that they don’t need anybody to talk about what occurred. They don’t need anybody to inform the reality about what actually occurred in Palestine.
Halla Mohieddeen: Al Jazeera’s taken the case to the Worldwide Felony Courtroom and as you’ll hear on Monday, Shireen’s household is pushing for justice from the US and Dan says – that will supply hope.
Dan Owen: First off an American investigation can be very welcomed. This may be nothing like an Israeli investigation. This may be an investigation that's exterior that may truly attain some form of fact and might truly get some kind of accountability. Israel could be very a lot depending on the US with regards to nearly something safety, economics, and many others. I imagine the US has loads of energy with regards to altering insurance policies and actions that Israel has been doing for the previous 55 years.
Halla Mohieddeen: On Monday we’ll have half two – the American investigation.
Halla Mohieddeen: For now, that’s the Take.
This episode was produced by Amy Walters with Negin Owliaei, Ruby Zaman, Alexandra Locke, Chloe Okay Li and me, Halla Moheideen. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan and our engagement producers are Aya Elmeleik and Adam Abou-Gad. Ney Alvarez is our head of audio.
We’ll be again.
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