Al Jazeera to file ICC suit over Shireen Abu Akleh killing

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist was shot dead during Jenin army raid in May

Shireen Abu Akleh during one of her reports from Jerusalem. AFP/ Al Jazeera

Broadcaster Al Jazeera has said it will file a lawsuit at the International Criminal Court over the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

It will submit a case to the ICC on Tuesday over Abu Akleh's death by "Israeli occupation forces", it said. Her family will later hold a press conference in The Hague alongside legal experts and Al Jazeera's legal team.

The veteran journalist was killed in May while covering an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank town of Jenin.

Al Jazeera said its legal team has new evidence that shows the correspondent and her colleagues were "directly fired at" by Israeli forces.

"The claim by the Israeli authorities that Shireen was killed by mistake in an exchange of fire is completely unfounded," it said in the statement.

Ms Abu Akleh's death prompted an international outcry and renewed concern for Palestinian journalists in the occupied territories.

Israel initially sought to blame Palestinian gunmen for her shooting but later admitted she was likely shot “unintentionally” by Israeli soldiers. The US has also called for those responsible to be held to account for her killing.

Her funeral procession through the West Bank and Jerusalem was attended by thousands of Palestinians, some of whom were beaten by Israeli forces.

Al Jazeera said its findings "confirm without any doubt" that there was no other shooting at the time Ms Abu Akleh was shot, and the journalists, who were wearing press vests and helmets, were in clear view of Israeli forces.

"This deliberate killing was part of a wider campaign to target and silence Al Jazeera," it added.