UNISON condemns killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

International committee welcomes IFJ’s complaint to the International Criminal Court regarding Israel’s targeting of journalists working in Palestine

UNISON joins the trade union movement around the world in condemning the killing of the respected journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by the Israeli military whilst reporting on a raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.

We send our solidarity and deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and all those who mourn her tragic loss. Our thoughts are also with Ali Al-Samudi as he recovers from being shot in the back while covering the same event.

We are shocked and outraged by the appalling scenes at Saint Joseph Hospital, when security forces beat the pallbearers who carried her coffin and ripped the Palestinian flag from the hearse, denying Shireen the dignity and respect she deserved as her body was laid to rest

UNISON joins the ITUC and the global trade union federations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Public Services International, in calling for an independent investigation into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and shooting of Ali Al-Samudi, and that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

We welcome the IFJ’s complaint to the International Criminal Court alleging that Israel’s systematic targeting of journalists working in Palestine and failure to properly investigate killing of media workers amount to war crimes.

We hope this achieves some justice for Shireen and at least 46 other journalists who have been killed since 2000, with no one being held to account.

The tragic circumstances of Shireen Abu Akleh’s death and her funeral have shone a light on the brutality of the occupation she reported on for the last 25 years.

As the people of Palestine mourn and commemorate the 74th anniversary of the Nakba and 55 years of occupation we continue to campaign in the hope that their demands for freedom, justice and peace are realised.

ITUC condemns killing