International humanitarian law states that civilian journalists performing their duties in armed conflict must be respected and protected from every form of deliberate attack.  International humanitarian law affords civilian journalists the same protections afforded to civilians as long as they do not take a direct part in hostilities.
 Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 states:
 “1) Journalists who undertake dangerous professional assignments in areas of armed conflict are considered civilians (...)
 2) They shall be protected as such under the provisions of the Conventions and this Protocol, provided that he does not take any action which would prejudice their status as civilians (...).  "
 The ICRC study on the customary rules of international humanitarian law (2005), in its rule 34 of Chapter Ten, also indicates the following:
 “Civilian journalists working on professional assignments in areas of armed conflict must be respected and protected as long as they are not taking a direct part in hostilities (...)
 State practice is based on this principle as a rule of customary international law applicable in both international and non-international armed conflicts.
 In all armed conflicts, international humanitarian law expressly prohibits the following acts against persons who are not taking an active part in hostilities or are no longer able to participate in them: any violence against life and persons, in particular murder in all its forms, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture, the taking of hostages, outrages upon dignity  Personal, especially humiliating and degrading treatment, issuing penalties and carrying out executions without a previous ruling issued by a legally constituted court that guarantees all judicial guarantees recognized as necessary by civilized peoples.

The assassination of journalist Shireen Abu- Aqleh constitutes a flagrant violation of the provisions of international humanitarian law, which requires referring the Israeli Minister of Defense to the International Criminal Court in order to achieve justice