US opposes Al Jazeera’s attempt to report killing its journalist to ICC

WASHINGTON - The United States opposes Al Jazeera's efforts to report the Israeli regime to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the murder of its journalist Shireen Abu Akleh .“We oppose this case,” U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters Tuesday after Qatar-based Al Jazeera, one of the world’s largest news networks, announced that it had filed a complaint against Israel with the International Criminal Court (the international crimes tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands) over the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Abu Akleh. The journalist, who had worked for Al Jazeera for 25 years, had been killed last May while covering an Israeli army raid on a refugee camp in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. She had been hit in the head by a bullet that, according to an investigation by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) agency, was fired by an Israeli regime soldier.

A judge rejected the complaint against the Saudi prince for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. In the U.S., a judge has dismissed the case against Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of journalist and activist Jamal Khashoggi, saying the Saudi crown prince is entitled to immunity despite “credible allegations” that he was involved in the murder. The complaints had been filed by Khashoggi’s fiancée.

U.S. District Judge John Bates has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, citing the latter’s grant of immunity by U.S. President Joe Biden. Judge Bates said he was reluctant to dismiss the case but had no choice given the Biden administration’s decision.

“Despite the court’s discomfort, given the circumstances of bin Salman’s appointment and the credible allegations of his involvement in Khashoggi’s murder, the United States has informed the court that he is immune,” Bates wrote in the 25-page ruling. Citing the circumstances of Prince Mohammed’s appointment as head of state, Bates referred to the fact that Saudi King Salman only appointed Prince Mohammed as prime minister in September by royal decree.

Mr. Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in October 2018 by Saudi agents in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an operation that U.S. intelligence believed was ordered by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.