LAWYERS working on the case of war crimes in the Palestinian occupied territories filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have added the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the complaint.

At a press conference in London, Bindmans LLP said that it was still awaiting confirmation from the ICC prosecutor’s office about the action it intends to take but said the killing of Ms Abu Akleh brought the need for urgent action into sharp focus. 

“We will seek to add these cases to the complaint that is already before the ICC,” a statement said. 

Lawyers from Doughty Street Chambers, representatives from the International Federation of Journalists, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians were present at the press conference. 

“A free press is the cornerstone of a democracy,” Tayeb Ali, the solicitor in the case said. “The targeting of journalists in conflict zones anywhere in the world is unacceptable and must bring severe consequences for those that try to hide their crimes and violations by killing or maiming journalists.”

Palestinian investigations concluded on Thursday that the Al Jazeera journalist was shot dead deliberately by Israeli soldiers as she covered a military offensive in Jenin earlier this month. 

“It was clear that one of the [Israeli] occupation forces … had fired a bullet that hit journalist Shireen Abu Akleh directly in her head” while she was attempting to escape, Palestinian Attorney General Akram al-Khatib told reporters in Ramallah. 

“The only source of firing was by the occupation forces with the aim to kill,” he said. His report was based on interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical report.

Another Al Jazeera journalist, Ali al-Samoudi, was also struck by a bullet in the back at the scene and is now in stable condition.

Al Jazeera also filed a separate claim to the ICC, the network confirmed on Thursday. It has formed an international coalition that consists of its legal team along with international experts, and is preparing a dossier on Ms Abu Akleh’s killing. 

In a statement the media organisation said that “killing or physical assault on journalists working in war zones or occupied territories is a war crime under article 8 of the ICC charter.

“The network vows to follow every path to achieve justice for Shireen, and ensure those responsible for her killing are brought to justice and held accountable in all international justice and legal platforms and courts,” it said.