The Israeli Army, commenting on the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, said this Monday (23) that if a Israeli soldier fired the shot that killed her, it does not necessarily imply that he had criminal. The probable weapon with which the shot was made has been found.
The argument was supported in a statement that mentioned military lawyer Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi. “As Abu Akleh was murdered in the midst of a combat zone, there should be no immediate suspicion of criminal activity in the absence of further evidence,” she said.
It will be responsible for determining whether any Israeli soldiers will face disciplinary action in the case, but the decision, the army said, should only be made when more investigation data, preferably from different sources, is available.
Abu Akleh, 51, died on the 11th during an Israeli army operation in the West Bank. A veteran of the profession, she wore a vest that identified her as a journalist. Her funeral was marked by repression, condemned by the international community.
The army statement says the institution is carrying out a comprehensive investigation to understand the circumstances of the accident, especially whether the bullet that killed the reporter came from Palestinians or Israelis. The Al Jazeera news channel, for which Abu Akleh worked, accuses Israel of deliberately killing her.
Tomer-Yerushalmi said Israel needs to analyze the bullet that was removed from the journalist’s body. The projectile, however, is with the Palestinian National Authority. “The inability to inspect the bullet continues to cast doubt on the circumstances of the death,” she said.
The Israeli army claims it was an incident in which a Israeli soldier sought to shoot a “Palestinian gunman”. The target was close to Abu Akleh, according to the military. The Israeli government offered to carry out a ballistics test attended by Palestinian and American experts.
The Palestinian National Authority, however, has refused to work with the Israelis, saying they are “completely responsible” for the reporter’s death. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said it had submitted a report on the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC), asking the court to speed up investigations.
