The Media Has a Difficult Time Saying Israeli Forces Killed Shireen Abu Akleh

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.gawker.com/media/shireen-abu-akleh-media-coverage

On Wednesday, veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli gunfire while covering Israeli raids in the city of Jenin. As one of Al Jazeera’s field correspondents, Abu Akleh rose to prominence for her coverage of the second Palestinian Intifada. As her obituary in the New York Times notes, Akleh “became a household name among Palestinians and Arabs across the Middle East, inspiring many to follow in her path.”

While the military murder of a journalist usually sparks outcry among media outlets, the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh has not. In fact, just a cursory look at how it has been covered would make it seem as though Abu Akleh died under mysterious circumstances during ill-defined “clashes” between Palestinian and Israeli forces, instead of being brutally murdered by the latter.

Other journalists on the scene, including Al Jazeera producer Ali al-Samoudi — who was also shot by Israeli forces — emphasized to Al Jazeera that there was no presence of Palestinian fighters, saying, “We were going to film the Israeli army operation and suddenly they shot us without asking us to leave or stop filming.” Another journalist present, Shatha Hanaysha, confirmed to Al Jazeera that all journalists present were wearing press vests and helmets saying, “The [Israeli] occupation army did not stop firing even after [Abu Akleh] collapsed. I couldn’t even extend my arm to pull her because of the shots being fired. The army was adamant on shooting to kill.”

And yet, the now-changed New York Times headline for Akleh’s aforementioned obituary simply said she “died” while also obfuscating the contents of an Al Jazeera statement in a now-deleted tweet. (“Died” has now been changed to “killed” in the headline.)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Just insane writing.

FreshMouthHat Retweeted

Just insane writing.

Link to tweet

[Mosby]

2. Sarah Hagi is full of shit.

The media backtracked because they realized they were being played, there wasn't evidence that this was caused by the Israelis, and the Palestinians are engaged in a cover up, no autopsy, no cooperation with international authorities or Israel, no crime scene analysis, no formal interviews.

The lead up to this is that Jenin is at war with itself, with Palestinian clans engaging in gun fights on the street, Hamas trying to drive a wedge between the west bankers and Fatah. It's only going to get worse as Abu mazens health fails.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Rachel Corey

[Mosby]

4. A good example of the media getting it wrong.

Reuters admitted that they manipulated the time sequence with their photo essay. The driver of the cat was acquitted. The ISM was working with terrorist orgs and are now banned from the country.

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. The NYT is just a rag now

I canceled my subscription several years ago (3 maybe?) and have not looked back. I think it had to do with some one of Maggie Haberman's columns, I forget now. But this is unconscionable.

I really regret that Al-Jazeera America shut down. I used to read it every day, just for a different viewpoint. The regular Al-Jazeera is not quite the same thing.

I also used to be pro-Israel, until they went nuts and started grabbing territory that just didn't belong to them. After Sabra and Shatila, all bets were off as far as I was concerned. As my late ex said then, "Israel has lost its soul." It looks to me like they have become what they fled.....

RIP, Shireen Abu Akieh. May you be found with the souls of the righteous in Paradise.