CAROLINE BAZZI

Beirut - In response to the assassination of journalist Shereen Abu Aqleh, the Alternative Press Syndicate staged a candlelight vigil and delivered a message to the UN in front of the UN ESCWA headquarters in Beirut.

In the presence of a number of media professionals and journalists, candles were lighted in tribute to late journalist Shereen Abu Aqleh.  Elida Ghossein spoke on behalf of the Alternative Press Syndicate, giving a message to UN residents and humanitarian coordinators in Beirut, Najat Rushdi.

"We are standing in front of the ESCWA building to pay tribute to Shereen Abu Aqleh and to deliver a message to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, urging the UN to immediately run an international investigation into the assassination of Palestinian journalist Shereen Abu Aqleh and hold the killers accountable," Elida Ghossein said.

"An assassination against free speech and press”

Elida Ghossein said "Given the fact that she was wearing a helmet and a protective gear, the direct targeting of a journalist breaches all international and humanitarian conventions. Unfortunately, the Israeli occupation continues to commit all of these atrocities against children and unarmed civilians, including journalists, with no consequences or international accountability. We've gathered in front of the ESCWA building to deliver a letter to the UN calling for international condemnation and an international investigation into Shereen Abu Aqleh's murder because we neither trust the occupation's investigation nor its outcome.”

She added that the killing of Shereen was a loss for both the Palestinians and the Palestinian press and her assassination was the assassination against free speech and press.”

"The assassination of Shereen is a menace to the press"

Salam Bossi, an engineer, stated that she took part in the protest "against the Israeli occupation, which dared to murder one of the most daring journalists, whom we constantly followed on the TV and her reportage on incidents in Palestine. Despite the fact that she was wearing press armor, explosive shots were fired at her with the intention of killing her, posing a menace to the press that should not go unpunished.”

She urged other countries to condemn the crime and demand that the Israeli army, which commits such atrocities against journalists and Palestinians, should be prosecuted.

"We lost someone who stood up to the adversary with courage"

"The least we can do is stand in sympathy with what is happening in Palestine," Carol Mansour, who participated in the solidarity demonstration, said, “We have lost Shereen, a woman and a journalist who dared to confront the adversary. We used to see her on the TV every day. Shereen's death was a great loss, and her death has caused grief and oppression.”

Carol Mansour continued her speech by remarking that in the aftermath of Shereen Abu Aqleh's killing, the Palestinian press will not remain silent, adding, “I hope that this tragedy will not silence women and the press in Palestine, rather, I believe that Shereen's legacy will be carried out by future generations in Palestine, particularly women.”

"It is important to remind the people that journalists must be safeguarded."

“This is a tribute to the spirit of our colleague Shereen Abu Aqleh, who was killed in Palestine by the Israeli army while covering the raid on the camp in Jenin,” Alternative Press Syndicate journalist Elisar Qubeissi stated.

"This vigil is a tribute to Shereen Abu Aqleh's spirit, to call for an investigation to be launched to retain Shereen's killers accountable, as well as to remind the need to protect journalists in areas of conflict and war, which is protected by international humanitarian law, and therefore we demand the international community to protect journalists, condemn the attacks against them and hold accountable those who killed Shereen.”

"We learned about stability and capability from Shereen."

“Since I started working as a journalist, I have been watching Shereen, learning from her, and following her,” journalist Sahar Mandour said, recalling how Shereen Abu Aqleh contributed to the press. “Shereen had a huge influence on us and taught us as women that the field is ours and that we are capable of fighting and protesting. She also showed us how to do things quietly and unwavering in her support for Palestine and Palestinian rights. Shereen's murder was unexpected, and I couldn't believe it when I first read her name, and I still can't believe that she died. I believe that both Palestine and the Arab world are stunned.”

"By killing the journalist, the occupation has demonstrated that no profession or level of competence can stop it from killing," she stated, "and this was proven when we saw journalist Shereen Abu Aqila lying on the ground with her helmet and jacket, despite her adherence to all regulations."

PA Ambassador to Lebanon Ashraf Dabour also called on activists and women's organizations to hold a protest in front of the embassy in Beirut.