Arab nations at UN call for probe into reporter’s death in West Bank

Arab countries at the United Nations call for an independent, international probe into what they call the assassination of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead as she covered an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank.

“The Arab group in New York adopted a statement condemning in the strongest possible term this criminal act by the Israeli occupying authorities and demanding an international independent investigation on this crime,” says the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour.

He says it is necessary “to take those who are responsible for this crime to face the accountability regarding this crime.”

The demand for an independent international probe was sent in three identical letters to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN Security Council and president of the General Assembly, Mansour says.