Israel, India employing ‘deliberate strategy’ to silence voices against oppression: PM

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said it was the deliberate strategy of Israel and India to silence the voices of those who narrated the stories of oppression faced by the people of Palestine and the Occupied Kashmir.

The prime minister expressed these views in reaction to the killing of Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead during a raid of Israeli forces in the West Bank.

“Strongly condemn the assassination of respected Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh at the hands of Israeli forces,” he wrote in a tweet.

PM Sharif said, “Silencing the voices of those who tell stories of oppressed people is part of a deliberate strategy employed by Israel and India in Palestine and the Occupied Kashmir”.

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh was killed by Israeli troops Wednesday as she covered a raid on Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the network and Palestinian witnesses said as quoted by news agency Associated Press (AP).

Al Jazeera said its journalist had been shot dead “deliberately” and “in cold blood” by Israeli troops.

Abu Aqleh, 51, a Palestinian Christian, was a prominent figure in the channel’s Arabic news service.

The Israeli army confirmed it had conducted an operation in Jenin refugee camp early Wednesday, but denied it had deliberately targeted a reporter.

A statement from Al Jazeera said: “In a blatant murder, violating international laws and norms, the Israeli occupation forces assassinated in cold blood Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Palestine.”