It is true that for the past seventy-four years, the Palestinian people have been sacrificing daily men and women, old and young.
But even against this background of loss and tragedy, the killing of Shireen Abu Aqleh yesterday has caused a unique feeling of pain, sadness, and shock.
Her death has put a lump in our throat, made our hearts bleed, and our eyes shed bitter tears, not only because Shireen was distinguished in her performance but also because she was a symbol of courage and an icon of sacrifice.
Shireen's words on Al Jazeera’s screen were stronger than the bullet that ended her life.
Whenever and wherever the Israeli occupation arrogance intensified on the Palestinian land – there you would find Shireen waiting to convey the news to the world the next moment, missing nothing, holding nothing back.
Her words gave us hope and pain at the same time.
I don’t know from where Shireen found the eloquence to compose the words which she used to share the plight of the Palestinian people with the world, but they etched themselves unforgettably into the conscience of the viewer and equally angered the usurping occupiers.
May Allah have mercy on her soul and grant her entrance into the widest Heaven.
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Shireen once said and I quote:
“We used to carry cameras and navigate through military checkpoints and back roads. It might not be easy for me to change reality, but I was at least able to relay our voice to the world. Even in the most difficult moments I chose journalism to be close to people. I am Shireen Abu Akleh.”
It is true that we did not know Shireen personally -- but despite that she entered our homes and our hearts through Al Jazeera’s screen.
Shireen was targeted with an M-16 bullet directly under the ear which is the area that is not covered by her press helmet -- which tells us that her targeting was intentional and not a random shot.
That the Israeli narrative – I would rather call it a novel -- has been changed four times already indicates the direct involvement of Israel in this heinous crime.
It is noteworthy that the latest edition of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz confirms that the undercover Israeli commando unit Dovdovan opened fire in the direction where Shireen and the Al Jazeera crew were standing from a distance of only 150 metres away.
No wonder the whole world condemned and denounced this heinous crime and even members of the US Congress stood a minute in silence to express their respect to Shireen Abu Akleh.
This proves the prestigious and respected position Shireen had earned not only in the eyes of the Palestinian people and in the Arab world, but across the globe.
The most important question remains: Will those who stood a minute in silence out of deep respect for the martyr’s soul demand that her killers stop their killings of the Palestinian people and our words of truth or will their conscience be satisfied by their minute of silence.
The upcoming days will determine the path and we shall wait and see.
Mercy to you Shireen Abu Aqleh.
Your departure is a great loss, and our loss of you is one which we will carry and which will remain deep in our hearts.
You made every living conscience in this world shed tears with your words.
Your memory will live in our conscience and the consciences of the coming generations forever.
HE Yousef Ramadan is the Ambassador of Palestine to Bangladesh
