She wore a press vest. She carried a microphone. She told the truth.
More than two years after the tragic martyrdom of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a new documentary titled “Who Killed Shireen?” has unveiled the identity of the Israeli soldier responsible: Alon Skagiu.
Shireen, a seasoned Al Jazeera correspondent, was fatally shot on May 11, 2022, while covering an Israeli military raid in Jenin, West Bank. Despite wearing a clearly marked press vest and helmet, she was struck by a bullet, an act that Al Jazeera condemned as a “cold-blooded assassination.”
He pulled the trigger. She was doing her job.
The documentary, produced by Zeteo and led by investigative journalist Dion Nissenbaum, delves into the circumstances surrounding her death, shedding light on the alleged attempts by both Israeli and U.S. governments to obscure the truth and avoid accountability.
The twist? The soldier who shot Shireen in 2022 was himself killed in Jenin last summer — the same place, the same resistance.
Shireen Abu Akleh’s martyrdom has become emblematic of the perils faced by journalists in war zones and underscores the pressing need for press freedom and justice. Her unwavering commitment to reporting the truth continues to inspire journalists worldwide. For women journalists — for every woman who dares to speak truth to power — Shireen’s voice is more than a memory. It is a mission.
This film does what institutions wouldn’t: it gives her the dignity of truth.
