Pope greets brother of slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

By AFP 26 October 2022, 5:49 pm Edit

A Palestinian holds a light candle and a picture of slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, to condemn her killing, in front of the office of Al Jazeera network, in Gaza City, May 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Adel Hana, File)

Pope Francis greeted the brother of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead during an Israeli operation in the West Bank, the Vatican’s official journal reports.

Anton Abu Akleh was with his wife and two daughters when he briefly met the pontiff during the weekly papal audience in St Peter’s Square, the Osservatore Romano says.

Shireen Abu Akleh, whose family is from the Melkite Greek Catholic church, was a veteran reporter with Al Jazeera.

She was shot dead in May while covering an Israeli army operation in Jenin refugee camp, in the West Bank.

The Israeli army said in September that one of its soldiers had likely shot Abu Akleh after having mistaken her for a terrorist.