France on Wednesday said it is “deeply shocked” over the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and called for a transparent investigation.

“France demands that a transparent investigation be undertaken as soon as possible to shed light on the circumstances of this tragedy,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of the press and the protection of journalists contributing to free information and public debate across the world.

Abu Akleh, 51, was shot dead while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Wednesday morning. Another journalist Ali Al-Samoudi was shot in the back, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The Doha-based network has accused Israeli forces of deliberately assassinating its reporter “in cold blood.”

Rayyan al-Ali, the director of the Forensic Medicine Institute at the An-Najah University in Nablus city, said Abu Akleh was fatally shot in the head./aa

The US sharply denounced on Wednesday the killing of a Palestinian-American journalist in the occupied West Bank during an “Israeli” raid, but did not assign blame for Shireen Abu Akleh's death.

"We are heartbroken by and strongly condemn the killing of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank," State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter. "The investigation must be immediate and thorough and those responsible must be held accountable. Her death is an affront to media freedom everywhere."

Abu Akleh, 51, was shot dead while covering an “Israeli” military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin Wednesday morning. Another journalist Ali Al-Samoudi was shot in the back, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Rayyan al-Ali, the director of the Forensic Medicine Institute at the An-Najah University in Nablus city, said the autopsy he conducted determined Abu Akleh was fatally shot in the head.

The Doha-based Al Jazeera news network has accused “Israeli” forces of deliberately assassinating its reporter “in cold blood.” It said the killing was a “heinous crime, which intends to only prevent the media from conducting their duty.”

“Israel” has sought to pin blame for Abu Akleh's killing on Palestinian gunmen, posting a video to social media of alleged armed Palestinians firing in Jenin.

But “Israeli” rights group B'Tselem said the video does not correspond to the location where Abu Akleh was shot and killed, and that "documentation of Palestinian gunfire distributed by “Israeli” military cannot be the gunfire that killed Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh."

Abu Akleh was born in Jerusalem in 1971 and earned a BA in journalism and media from Yarmouk University in Jordan. She also holds US citizenship./aa

The EU strongly condemned on Wednesday the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while covering an “Israeli” raid in the occupied West Bank and called for an investigation.

"The European Union strongly condemns the killing of Palestinian-American journalist of Al-Jazeera, Shireen Abu Akleh, in the occupied West Bank," the chief spokesperson for the EU diplomatic service, Peter Stano, said in an official statement.

He said it is significant that a "thorough, independent investigation clarifies all the circumstances of these incidents as soon as possible and that those responsible are brought to justice."

The statement also underlined that it is unacceptable to target working journalists and that their security must be assured./aa

KUWAIT: Foreign Minister and Acting Minister of Defense Sheikh Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah led Kuwait’s delegation at an Arab League ministerial meeting held remotely on Wednesday. Under the directions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait has provided assistance worth $100 million for global efforts to tackle coronavirus, some of which will go to Arab states, he said. Speaking to fellow ministers, he described the ongoing global pandemic as a “tangible threat to the security and stability” of the world. “Cooperation and coordination between our countries and the countries of the world is necessary,” he maintained.

On the Middle East crisis, he stressed Kuwait’s “principled and steadfast position” in support of Palestinians’ legitimate rights and statehood, along the 1967 borders and with a capital of East Jerusalem, and its continued support for the UNRWA in its assistance of Palestinian refugees. He also renewed the call for the international community to “seriously and carefully” consider the option for just and comprehensive peace as a strategic option that ends the Arab-Israeli conflict and preserves the rights Palestinian people. This may only be achieved through the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative, Israel’s withdrawal from occupied Arab territories and the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 2334, he said.

In regards to the Syrian conflict, which has entered its tenth year, the minister described the situation there as having witnessed “unprecedented humanitarian tragedies… (where) external parties compete at the expense of the Syrian people.” He reiterated Kuwait’s stance in rejection of a military solution to the crisis, saying that a political settlement remains the only option in accordance with Security Council resolution 2245 and the 2012 Geneva Communique.

Yemen crisis
On Yemen, he said that the conflict there continues to threaten the security and stability of the Arab region as a whole as he underlined the need for a political solution based on the three basic references – the GCC initiative, national dialogue and Security Council resolution 2216. He expressed support for efforts by the UN to mediate consultations and dialogue between Yemeni parties aimed at reaching a political settlement, urging these parties to commit to the process. Saudi Arabia’s initiative to restart the Riyadh Accord talks was praised, as the minister reiterated Kuwait’s condemnation of attacks on the kingdom and support for all measures it takes to maintain its security and stability.

On Libya, he welcomed the announced ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, highlighting Kuwait’s support for global efforts aimed at ending the fighting and ensuring peace and stability there. He went to urge parties there to aim for the nation’s benefit above all other considerations, to commit to ending the violence and resort to peaceful dialogue as a means to end the ongoing crisis. The minister also welcomed the peace accords signed between the Transitional Government of Sudan and several opposition factions and expressed Kuwait’s support during the upcoming interim stage.

Solidarity with Lebanon, Sudan
The Arab League’s foreign ministers expressed their full solidarity with Lebanon to face the catastrophe of the explosion that targeted Beirut port, a key facility in Lebanon. In a statement issued at the end of the session, the ministers affirmed on their continued support to Lebanon to overcome the repercussions of this disaster, calling for unveiling the causes of this incident and hold those responsible for it.

They also called on the international community, and regional and international organizations working in humanitarian relief to continue their efforts in offering humanitarian and relief support to the Lebanese, the statement said. In addition, they stressed the importance of the role of the Arab League and the joint Arab action in providing all forms of humanitarian and relief backing to Lebanon and efforts contributing to removing the effects of this disaster, it added.

Meanwhile, the ministers affirmed their solidarity with the Sudanese government and people to face the consequences of the floods that engulfed a number of the Sudanese states, and caused big material losses and human casualties. They underlined the necessity in offering urgent relief to Sudan, urging the country’s friends and the international community as well as the non-governmental financial institutions and relief organizations to assume their role in aiding Sudan and its people to overcome this catastrophe, the statement concluded. – KUNA

Russian forces have committed mass war crimes on Ukraine, says parliament of Baltic nation, which shares long border with Russia

Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday voted unanimously to recognize Russia’s war against Ukraine as “genocide,” according to the Baltic country’s public broadcaster.

“Russia's armed forces and mercenaries have committed mass war crimes on Ukrainian territory, in particular in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Borodyanka, and Hostomel,” Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) quoted the resolution as saying.

Lithuania’s parliament “recognizes the full-scale armed aggression – war – against Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation and its political and military leadership … as genocide against the Ukrainian people," the resolution said.

The resolution stressed that all perpetrators must be held accountable and urged the international community to establish a special international criminal tribunal to investigate crimes committed by Russia.

"The Russian Federation, whose military forces deliberately and systematically target civilian targets, is a state that supports and perpetrates terrorism," the resolution said.

Lithuania, formerly part of the Soviet Union and now a NATO member, shares a 275-kilometer (171-mile) border with Russia.

At least 3,381 civilians have been killed and 3,680 others injured during the ongoing Ukraine war that started on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates. The true toll is feared to be much higher.

More than 5.91 million people have fled to other countries, with some 7.7 million people internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency./aa