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May 07, 2026 – Palestine –
Press freedom advocates and the family of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh are calling for renewed action and transparency from US authorities, as the investigation into her 2022 killing enters its fourth year without a public update on meaningful progress.
According to a statement shared by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Abu Akleh’s family reiterated that they “will not stop” pursuing accountability for her death, describing the ongoing lack of justice as a continuing source of pain and frustration. The family emphasized that the absence of accountability sends a dangerous signal that journalists can be killed without consequence.
Abu Akleh, a veteran Al Jazeera correspondent and US citizen, was shot and killed while covering an Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin in May 2022. She was wearing a clearly marked press vest at the time of the shooting.
In parallel, CPJ has urged the US Department of Justice and the FBI to provide a public update on the status of their investigation into her killing, expressing concern that the case has seen no visible progress since it was opened in 2022. The organization said the lack of updates undermines confidence in the investigative process and accountability mechanisms for crimes against journalists.
CPJ has also called for clearer timelines and the release of findings, arguing that transparency is essential given Abu Akleh’s status as a US citizen and the global attention her killing received. The group reiterated that impunity in such cases contributes to continued risks for journalists operating in conflict zones.
Her killing has remained one of the most widely cited cases in discussions about journalist safety in the region. Multiple independent investigations concluded that she was likely killed by gunfire from Israeli forces during the raid, although accountability measures have not followed.
CPJ has also noted that since Abu Akleh’s death, hundreds of journalists have been killed in related regional conflicts, underscoring what it describes as a broader pattern of extreme danger for media workers and a persistent lack of accountability for attacks on them.
As the fourth anniversary of her killing approaches, both her family and press freedom organizations are maintaining pressure on US authorities to advance the investigation and publicly clarify its status, framing the case as a key test of accountability for crimes against journalists.
Reference –
CPJ shares statement from Shireen Abu Akleh’s family 4 years after journalist’s murder
