When Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was assassinated by Israeli forces with a precision shot between her bulletproof vest and helmet — while clearly wearing a press jacket — the world witnessed what Miko Peled calls a deliberate, high-level elimination. Then, at her Christian funeral, Israeli police beat the pallbearers carrying her coffin, creating images so shocking that even CNN described it as a targeted killing.
The Assassination of a Beloved Journalist
Shireen Abu Akleh had been a household name in Palestine for over 20 years, reporting for Al Jazeera with distinction and courage. She was shot while covering an Israeli raid near the Jenin refugee camp. Witnesses confirm there was no exchange of fire at the time. The precision of the shot — hitting the exact gap between vest and helmet — indicates a trained sniper, and Miko Peled explains that such an operation would have required authorization from the highest levels of Israel’s defense apparatus, if not the prime minister himself.
“It had to be a sharpshooter, a sniper, to get such an accurate shot. It had to have been okayed by the highest levels of the defense apparatus. You don’t take out a reporter that well-known in such conditions without getting an okay from very high up. It was an assassination.”
Beating Mourners at a Christian Funeral
As if the assassination were not enough, Israeli forces attacked the funeral procession itself, beating pallbearers with batons and kicking mourners until they had to retreat. Shireen was a Palestinian-American citizen with American citizenship. She was a Christian. Her death exposes the reality that Israel’s aggression is not about religion — it is about systematically targeting Palestinians regardless of their faith, gender, or international protections.
“The assaults were so bad — you can see the images. They’re beating the pallbearers, beating them and beating them. Even the pallbearers had to retreat as police kicked and beat them with batons. This was a Christian funeral for an American citizen.”
Why Every Person of Conscience Must Speak Up
- Miko Peled, whose grandfather helped create Israel and whose father was an Israeli general, continues to risk everything to speak truth about Palestine
- Palestinians live under conditions most people cannot imagine — limited food, water, electricity, and constant threat of violence from an occupying force
- A tweet, a post, a phone call, or sharing the truth with others may seem small but collectively makes an enormous difference
- We must be grateful for what we have while never forgetting those who lack the basic necessities, and use our voice and resources to stand against oppression
