After the analysis of the bullet that killed the American-Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while she was covering armed clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militiamen on May 11 in the northern West Bank, the United States affirms that it does not “a definitive conclusion” can be reached about the origin of the shot, which he considers unintentional. However, based on the investigations carried out by the Israeli Army and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), he points out that “the shots from the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) positions were probably responsible” for her death.
“The ballistics experts determined that the bullet was badly damaged, which prevented a clear conclusion,” reads the document released by US spokesman Ned Price, noting that they found “no reason to believe that (the fatal shot) was intentional, but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against Islamic Jihad in Jenin, which followed a series of terror attacks in Israel.”
After enormous pressure from the US, the ANP delivered the bullet this Saturday to the officer in charge of security coordination between the two parties, Michael R. Fenzel. The test was carried out on Sunday in an Israeli Police laboratory under the supervision of Fenzel and an American expert.
“We will not allow the truth to be hidden. Israel is responsible for the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh and we will continue our proceedings before international courts,” PLO Secretary General Hussein Al Sheikh reacted after a report widely criticized by the PNA. A month ago, the investigation carried out by the Palestinian attorney general Akram al Jatib concluded that the journalist, wearing the identifying press vest, was killed by an Israeli shot.
Palestinian President Abu Mazen’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, demanded that Washington “maintain its credibility and impose full responsibility on Israel for the crime of killing Shireen Abu Akleh. All Palestinian and international investigations attribute responsibility to Israel without any doubt”. The ANP has reiterated its intention to take the case to the International Criminal Court, stating that the witnesses on the ground leave no room for doubt about the author of the shot.
“We are committed to discovering the truth. Unfortunately, forensic and ballistic analysis do not allow us to determine who fired the shot, but the investigation will continue,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz said this afternoon.
“As in many cases, hundreds of bullets were fired at soldiers who responded in the direction of the sources of fire. Those responsible for this incident are terrorists operating among the civilian population,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has tweeted that “the Army investigation clarifies that it is not possible to determine who is responsible for the unfortunate death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, but it determines with certainty that there was no intention to harm her. Israel expresses its sorrow for his death.”
“In recent years, hundreds of journalists have died in combat zones around the world. It goes without saying that Israel is interested in protecting journalists and freedom of the press in any place and condition,” added the former Israeli journalist who He has only been in office for four days. Also, the head of the Army, Aviv Kochavi, has ordered to continue the investigation after the ballistic analysis of the weekend.
After the death of the Al Jazeera journalist, Israel asked the PNA for a joint investigation including the delivery of the bullet to carry out the tests and determine its origin. The Palestinian authorities, who accused Israel of what they called “cold-blooded murder,” refused but this weekend acceded to pressure from the United States, which wanted a conclusive answer before President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel and West Bank scheduled for July 13 and 14.
Abu Akleh’s death shocked Palestinians who considered her one of the great defenders and media speakers of their cause and provoked international condemnation. Qatar – owner of the chain in which the veteran Jerusalem reporter worked since 1997 – also accused Israel from the outset. In recent weeks, investigations by the UN and some international media have indicated that she was shot dead by Israeli forces during their operation against militiamen in the Jenin refugee camp, although without openly accusing them of doing so deliberately.
“The truth is clear and the American Administration tries to evade it. We assure that Israel killed Abu Akleh and must be held accountable for the crime he committed,” added Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the Executive Committee of the PLO after a report that will surely not change. much the opinion of some and others about the death of the Palestinian-American journalist.
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