Izzat al-Rishq, member of the Political Bureau and head of the media office of Hamas, condemned in the strongest possible terms the targeting of the Zionist occupation of the veteran Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, Al-Jazeera correspondent in Palestine, and considered it a heinous Zionist crime and a premeditated murder.

Al-Rishq said this morning: "This crime confirms that the occupation is based on lies and false myths, targets the truth, tries to hide its crimes, and practices premeditated killing against our Palestinian people and journalists.

Al-Rishq added: "Abu Aqleh's blood will be a curse on the occupation, and Palestinian journalists will continue their role in revealing the truth of the occupation and the occupation's crimes will not deter them from continuing their national role and their noble humanitarian message".

Al-Rishq offered his sincere condolences to the family of Shireen Abu Aqleh, the Al-Jazeera network, and the Palestinian people, and prayed for a speedy recovery for journalist Ali Al-Samoudi and safety for all the heroic journalists.