Al Jazeera journalist killed during Israel West Bank raid

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, a Palestinian-American who was among the network's most prominent figures, was shot dead Wednesday as she covered an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank. 

The Qatar-based TV channel said Israeli forces shot Abu Aqleh, 51, deliberately and "in cold blood" while she was covering unrest in the Jenin refugee camp. 

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett however said it was "likely" that Palestinian gunfire killed her. 

Another Al Jazeera journalist, producer Ali al-Samudi, was wounded in the incident, the broadcaster added.

A photographer said Abu Aqleh was wearing a press flak jacket when she was shot. The photographer reported that Israeli forces were firing in the area and then saw Abu Aqleh's body lying on the ground. 

There were no Palestinian gunmen visible in the area when Abu Aqleh was killed.

The Israeli army confirmed it had conducted an operation in the camp early Wednesday but firmly denied it had deliberately targeted a reporter. 

The army said there was an exchange of fire between suspects and security forces and that it was "investigating the event and looking into the possibility that journalists were hit by the Palestinian gunmen".

"The (army) of course does not aim at journalists," a military official site.

A statement from Al Jazeera said: "The Israeli occupation forces assassinated in cold blood Al Jazeera's correspondent in Palestine." 

It called on the international community to hold the Israeli forces accountable for their "intentional targeting and killing" of the journalist.