Outrage over reporter's death during Israeli operation in Jenin

Qatari TV channel Al Jazeera accused the Israeli military of murder on Wednesday following the death of its reporter Shireen Abu Akleh in the northern West Bank city of Jenin during an Israeli army operation. In a strongly worded statement, Al Jazeera said: 'In a blatant murder, violating international laws and norms, the Israeli occupation forces assassinated in cold blood Al Jazeera's correspondent in Palestine, Shireen Abu Akleh.' 'Al Jazeera Media Network condemns this heinous crime, which intends to only prevent the media from conducting their duty.' 'We were deeply saddened to learn of the loss of American and Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh today in Jenin,' an embassy spokesperson said, calling for a 'swift, thorough, and transparent investigation.' A journalist from the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, Ali al-Samoudi, also suffered gunshot injuries in the Jenin incident, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. The Israeli army tweeted that soldiers had been deployed to Jenin to arrest terror suspects, and that suspects fired at the troops and threw explosive devices. 'The IDF is investigating the event and looking into the possibility that the journalists were hit by the Palestinian gunmen,' the Israeli military said. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the Palestinian accusations had no solid basis. The Arab League blamed 'Israeli bullets' for the journalist's death. Since late March, a wave of violence has seen 17 people killed in Israel. Also on Wednesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli soldiers had shot and killed an 18-year-old Palestinian in the West Bank near Ramallah. The ministry did not provide any further details, and Israeli authorities did not comment. More than 20 Palestinians have been killed since the end of March, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.