THE All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) organised a protest demonstration at Connaught Place, New Delhi on May 13, condemning the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli military forces. AIPSO demanded an impartial enquiry into the killing and exemplary punishment for those responsible for this brutal assassination. It is to be noted that the secretary general of the UN too condemned this brutal killing and called for an independent probe.

Shireen Abu Akleh, a US citizen, is considered as an ‘icon of Palestinian coverage’. She reported to the world with honesty the brutal deeds of the Israeli occupation forces and the atrocities they commit on Palestinians. This made her a target of the Israeli attack. It is heinous that instead of accepting its responsibility, the Israeli defence forces are laying the blame on Palestinians for the killing – which was rubbished as a blatant lie by the journalists on the ground.

The attack on Abu Akleh has to be seen in the background of increasing attacks on journalists taking place in many places whenever the ruling forces are bothered with the true representation of facts. India too is a witness to such increasing attacks on journalists carried out by right-wing, authoritarian forces. Hence it is not coincidental that the Zionist forces that killed Abu Akleh and Hindutva communal forces in India leading the attacks on journalists, share deep ideological affinity and friendship. This makes it all the more important for Indian people to express indignation at the brutal assassination of Akleh.

Students, women and peace activists participated in this protest. Pallab Sengupta and R Arun Kumar, general secretaries of the AIPSO addressed the demonstration. Dr Khan, secretary of AIPSO also spoke; Utkarsh, representing the student community thanked the participants.

AIPSO called upon all its units to protest the killing of Akleh by Israeli forces and demanded severe punishment to the perpetrators of the crime. It also called for an immediate end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and demanded the restoration of Palestinian State with 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital.