'Dark day for journalism:' Journalists outraged by Israel's killing of Shireen Abu Akleh

Journalists and reporters worldwide were quick to express shock and sadness at the killing of veteran Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot by Israeli soldiers in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Abu Akleh was covering Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin when she was hit by a live bullet, reported Al Jazeera. She was also wearing a press vest.

The renowned reporter was rushed to hospital in critical condition, and died soon after, according to the Palestinian healthy ministry.

Many of Abu Akleh’s colleagues stated her killing marked a "dark day" for journalism, while decrying Israeli forces’ actions.

A dark day for journalism & the world - Shereen Abu Aqleh, Al Jazeera correspondent Palestine, was killed by the Israeli forces while covering an Israeli raid of Jenin refugee camp. The world needs to hold Israel accountable!!

Inna li llahi w inna ilaayhi raji’un. pic.twitter.com/Yqy8AyF7eZ

— Boutaïna Azzabi Ezzaouia (@Boutaina) May 11, 2022

Other colleagues said that working alongside her was a "privilege" and applauded her courage, and used the Islamic Quranic verse "verily we belong to Allah and verily do we return to Him", usually used when someone passes away.

The Palestinian journalist and writer Jalal Abu Khater said that Abu Akleh’s face was the "first he knew from TV", and that she was his idol growing up, having saved her photos in a scrapbook during the Second Intifada.

Im absolutely horrified this morning.
Shireen Abu Aqleh is the first face I knew from TV. I remember adding her photo in my Intifada scrapbook, exactly 20 years ago. I was 7 years old. She was my idol.
They killed her in the same place she covered 20 yrs ago. Horrifying. pic.twitter.com/bpKsUWgDME

— Jalal (@JalalAK_jojo) May 11, 2022

Journalists from Sky News Arabia, BBC Arabic and the UAE’s The National expressed their sadness, some calling her death "unbelievable" and "terrible news", and bid her farewell.

Renowned BBC Middle East correspondent Quentin Somerville called Abu Akleh a "brave, fearless journalist", meanwhile Australia correspondent Shaimaa Khalil called her killing "terrible" and that she, like millions of others, followed Abu Akleh’s reporting for years.

Quel choc, quelle tristesse…Shyrine Abou Aqleh, figure historique et emblématique de la chaîne d’information d'Al Jazeera en #Palestine a été tuée ce matin d'une balle dans la tête par les soldats israéliens, pendant une incursion dans le camp de réfugiés de #Jenine pic.twitter.com/83e1Sht3Km

— imad stitou (@StitouImad) May 11, 2022

Abu Akleh is considered a pioneer of journalism in the Arab world, due to her work as a reporter with the  Al Jazeera's Arabic-language channel for 25 years, where she covered major events in Palestine, particularly the Second Intifada from 2000 to 2005.

Several journalists in the Arab world- and beyond- hail Abu Akleh as a role model and a trailblazer of the profession.