Several independent investigations have concluded that Abu Akleh was most likely killed by targeted shots fired by Israeli occupation forces, but Israeli authorities have not opened a criminal investigation or held anyone responsible.

“After a year, Israeli authorities have failed to hold the perpetrators of Abu Akleh’s killing accountable, while independent investigations have pointed at the culpability of Israeli forces. Justice remains, again, hostage of politics,” the experts said.  

Abu Akleh was shot dead while reporting on Israel's raid in the Jenin refugee camp, despite wearing clear identification as a journalist.

The experts have called for an effective, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into her death, in accordance with international standards.

They have also highlighted the high number of Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in recent months and urged the international community to take action.

 In 2022, out of 9000 Israeli operations, 702 targeted refugee camps in the occupied West Bank. In 2023, already more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in the context of such operations, including in Jenin, Nablus and Jericho.

Since 2001, at least 18 Palestinian journalists have been reportedly killed by the IDF in the occupied Palestinian territory and no one has been held accountable for those deaths.