PA Forces Kill Young Journalist in Jenin: Outrage and Accusations of Internal Repression

January 6, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –

21-year-old journalist Shatha al-Sabbagh was shot in the head and killed by a sniper while walking in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank—accompanied by her nephews—according to her family. They accuse the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces of responsibility.

Al‑Sabbagh, who worked in media and reported on human rights violations during the PA’s crackdown on armed groups in Jenin, was allegedly targeted just a day after conducting interviews with victims of PA operations. Her mother was present when she was shot, and eyewitnesses say she collapsed immediately after being struck.

The PA denies involvement, claiming the journalist was killed by “outlaws”—a term commonly used for anti-PA militants. However, the timing and circumstances—occurring under a sniper-permitted PA operation—have led the family and local observers to condemn the killing as politically motivated repression. Shatha’s sister-in-law reported that she wore standard civilian attire, and there were no militants in the area at the time, contradicting spokesperson Anwar Rajab’s version of events.

This killing is part of a broader PA operation in Jenin, launched on December 5 to dismantle militant resistance. The campaign, which included raids, sniper deployments, and closures, has resulted in clashes between PA forces and local fighters, escalating into what many observers describe as internal Palestinian infighting.

Shatha al-Sabbagh’s death spotlights the perilous position of journalists caught between warring forces in the West Bank. Her killing—the 10th journalist fatality in Gaza and the West Bank in just two weeks—raises urgent questions about whether the PA is systematically stifling press coverage of its actions.

Media Freedom Watchdogs, including Middle East Eye, are demanding an independent, transparent investigation. They emphasize the need for accountability, particularly as the PA steps into roles traditionally overshadowed by Israeli military authority in the region. The killing of a civilian journalist undercuts public trust and deepens concerns that the PA, in its bid to assert security dominance, is now suppressing Palestinian voices it deems threatening.

Without a full, impartial probe, this incident threatens not only the safety of journalists in Jenin but also the integrity of Palestinian self-governance and the right of the press to report on internal state actions.

Reference – 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-authority-forces-kill-journalist-jenin-family-says

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyv3rl9prp6o

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/01/06/18871961.php