UNSC unanimously condemns killing of Shireen Abu Akleh

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The United Nations Security Council on Friday unanimously condemned the killing of Palestinia journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Martyr Abu Akleh was deliberately assassinated by the IOF while covering their storming of the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

The UNSC statement called for "an immediate, thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into her killing."

According to diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity, the negotiations on the text were particularly arduous. 

The final text merely says that "journalists should be protected as civilians" and does not mention the IOF assault on pallbearers during Abu Akleh's Friday funeral.

Television footage showed pallbearers struggling to stop Abu Akleh's coffin from falling to the ground as the IOF brutally assaulted them.

Watch | The Israeli occupation brutally assaults the crowds at #ShireenAbuAkleh's funeral.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/TKTfwgLBLk

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 13, 2022

The US claimed it was “deeply troubled to see the images of Israeli police intruding" Abu Akleh's funeral procession.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “Every family deserves to be able to lay their loved ones to rest in a dignified and unimpeded manner.”

Watch | the IOF violently assaults the car transporting #ShireenAbuAkleh's coffin and brutally attacks #AlMayadeen's crew.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/EhsPABcTNM

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 13, 2022

On its part, the EU expressed that it was “appalled by the violence in the St Joseph hospital compound and the level of unnecessary force exercised by Israeli police throughout the funeral procession."

Similarly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply disturbed” by the scenes.