Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead in the West Bank on Wednesday, the network said.
Jerusalem (CNN) --
Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was fatally shot while on assignment in the West Bank on Wednesday, the network said.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that Abu Akleh was shot in the head with a live bullet in Jenin and confirmed his death shortly after.
A second journalist, Ali Al Samudi, was also shot and is in stable condition, the ministry said.
Al Jazeera accused Israeli security forces of deliberately targeting and killing Abu Akleh and urged the international community to condemn and hold Israel accountable.
The Israel Defense Forces said its security forces had been operating in the area "to arrest suspected terrorist activities," and both Palestinian suspects and Israeli forces were firing at the time.
"As part of the activity in the Jenin refugee camp, the suspects fired heavily at the force and threw explosives. The force responded by firing. Hits were detected," the IDF said.
"The possibility that the journalists were hit, possibly by Palestinian gunfire, is being investigated. The matter is being examined," the IDF added.
advertising
Al Jazeera journalist Al-Samudi, who was with Abu Akleh when she was killed, said there were no armed Palestinians in the area at the time.
"The Israeli army shot at us," said Al-Samudi, who was also shot.
"There was no Palestinian gunman at the scene."
In response to the shooting, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Twitter that his government had offered to conduct a joint Israeli-Palestinian investigation.
And he added: "Journalists must be protected in conflict zones and we all have a responsibility to get to the truth."
As news of his death spread, tributes began pouring in for Abu Akleh.
Abu Alkeh's colleague, Nida Ibrahim, said she was a "highly respected journalist" who had been working with Al Jazeera since the start of the second Palestinian Intifada in 2000, according to the network.
"As you can imagine, this is a shock to the journalists who have been working with her," Ibrahim said through tears.
Abu Akleh was born and raised in Jerusalem and belonged to a Christian family, according to Bir Zeit University, where she was a professor.
She was 51 years old, according to the university.
"He initially studied architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology, then went on to major in print journalism and earn a bachelor's degree from Yarmouk University in Jordan," according to his university biography.
He worked with the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East, Voice of Palestine Radio, Amman Satellite Channel, Miftah Foundation and Monte Carlo Radio before joining Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera West Bank