Birzeit University mourns alumna and colleague Shireen Abu Akleh

Birzeit University strongly condemns the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a renowned Palestinian journalist working with Al Jazeera, by Israeli forces on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. She was murdered in cold blood, wearing a clearly marked press jacket, while covering an Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp.  

“I will never forget that the feeling of death so close to me . I might not be able to change the reality, but at least I can pass along our story to the world.”

Shireen Abu Akleh

Abu Akleh graduated from Yarmouk University in Jordan and began a distinguished career at Al Jazeera, covering events in Palestine since the beginning of the second Intifada in 2000. Over the years, she had a unique relationship with Birzeit University, earning a diploma from the institution in 1997 and 2020 and presenting the valedictory speech at the graduation ceremony for the digital media diploma program. She was a trainer at the university’s Media Development Center, and she taught several courses to undergraduate students at the Department of Media.