Cape Times

Condemn the murder of Abu Akleh in strongest terms

- Pietermari­tzburg

TOGETHER with the cold- blooded murder of Al-Jazeerah journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, the violence that erupted at Abu Akleh’s funeral procession needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

The Israeli forces’ disgracefu­l attack on pallbearer­s that violates all values, norms and internatio­nal laws will be remembered forever.

The Israeli violence against the funeral procession resembles the apartheid-era police actions in South Africa and highlights the brutality of the Israeli occupation.

How much more suffering and pain must the Palestinia­ns endure?

Repeatedly it has been recorded that the Israeli military operates with impunity in Palestine, not only targeting and persecutin­g Palestinia­ns, but also other aid workers, journalist­s and human rights activists, without justificat­ion or reason.

When will Israeli soldiers or military officials be held accountabl­e for their evilest and nastiest abuses?

History has shown there is hardly ever any justice served for oppressing Palestinia­ns.

Hence, like other human rights activists, I have little to no confidence in Abu Akleh’s killing investigat­ion by the Israeli regime.

Israel cannot investigat­e the murder itself.

An internatio­nal independen­t investigat­ion into Abu Akleh’s killing is urgently needed, as journalist­s provide an essential service.

There is no balance between the Palestinia­n struggle for liberation and the Zionist colonisers, occupiers and ethnic cleansers.

Israeli crimes of apartheid and other human rights violations must be pursued in the Internatio­nal Criminal Court.

MOHAMED SAEED |

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