While there is a lot going on in the world, this week we wanted to bring our focus to one particular tragedy. The shooting of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces and the subsequent disruption and violence at her funeral has horrified the Global Comment team and we are dedicating this week’s three spots to that.
The news may be fraying your nerves, and there is new information flashed in front of us every few minutes. So much so that we can find ourselves missing the slow, thoughtful, considerate words that our brains – and souls – need. This weekly update can provide that for you. We do this by distilling the best of the web and recommending just three links every week that you absolutely must see.
No fluff, no fuss, just three exceptional reads. Here are this week’s recommendations:
1. Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh a fatal sign of Israel’s control (Brendan Ciarán Browne / The Irish Times)
The claims by Palestinian media organisations alleging an Israeli policy of systematically attacking their profession fit with this pattern of control. Abu Akleh is the latest in a long and tragic list of Palestinian journalists who have lost their lives reporting. “In terms of the event itself, unfortunately, it is not unique, not different,” says Saleh Hijazi, the deputy director of Amnesty International’s Middle East programme. “It fits a pattern, a pattern of unlawful killing, and also a pattern of targeting journalists and human rights defenders.”
2. Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera reporter killed by Israeli forces (Zena Al Tahhan / Al Jazeera)
Al-Samoudi and other journalists at the scene said there were no Palestinian fighters present when the journalists were shot, directly disputing an Israeli statement referencing the possibility that it was Palestinian fire.
“We were going to film the Israeli army operation and suddenly they shot us without asking us to leave or stop filming,” said al-Samoudi.
“The first bullet hit me and the second bullet hit Shireen … there was no Palestinian military resistance at all at the scene.”
3. For my family’s community, Shireen’s death feels like the loss of a sister (Layla Moran)
For my family's community, Shireen's death feels like the loss of a sister.
I asked the Minister why the Israeli Ambassador hasn't been summoned to make clear how unhelpful to the peace process their actions have been. @FCDOGovUK's response has not been good enough so far. pic.twitter.com/GnPPUeMr7D
— Layla Moran 🔶🕊️ (@LaylaMoran) May 16, 2022
Image: simon peel