The U.S. State Department said Monday that investigations allow it to say that the shot that killed Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh likely came from Israeli forces, but that a definitive conclusion is not possible because the bullet that hit her it was badly damaged.
Still, the department followed, no reason could have been found to believe the shooting was intentional. “But rather the result of tragic circumstances during an Israeli-led military operation against Islamic Jihad,” he said in a statement.
Abu Akleh was a reporter for the news channel Al Jazeera and was following an operation in the city of Jenin in May when she was killed, even though she was identified as a press professional through a vest.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said after the American remarks that “Palestinian terrorists must be held responsible for the death” of Abu Akleh.
Just over a week ago, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said, also after independent investigations, that the shot that killed the journalist was fired by Israeli forces.
The United Nations said it was “deeply disturbing” that Israeli authorities had not conducted a criminal investigation into the episode.
A few weeks after the reporter’s death, the Israeli Army, which said it was investigating what happened, said that if a Israeli soldier fired the shot that killed her, it would not necessarily imply criminal conduct.
The country has also been critical of all UN statements that question the way in which relations with the Palestinian National Authority are developed. Earlier this month, a report commissioned by the Human Rights Council blamed Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories for the cycle of violence in the region, which has intensified again.
_112329.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
_122108.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
