Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely killed by unintentional gunfire from Israeli positions, but independent investigators have been unable to come to a definitive conclusion on the source of the bullet that hit her, the US State Department said on Monday. thursday (4).
Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American, was killed on May 11 during an Israeli attack on the West Bank city of Jenin.
The US Security Coordinator (USSC), after talking about the investigations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Palestinian Authority, concluded that gunfire from Israeli positions was probably responsible for the death of Abu Akleh, said the State Department.
“The USSC found no reason to believe this was intentional, but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against factions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” the State Department said in a statement.
In forensic analysis by third-party experts supervised by the USSC, however, ballistics experts determined that the bullet was badly damaged, which precluded a clear conclusion on its origin, the State Department said.
Palestinians say the Israeli military deliberately killed Abu Akleh. Israel denies this, saying she may have been hit by stray army bullets or by a shot by one of the Palestinian gunmen who were clashing with its forces there.
A senior Palestinian official accused Washington of seeking to protect Israel.
“The truth is clear, but the US government continues to shy away from announcing it,” Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, told Reuters.
“We say that Israel killed Shireen Abu Akleh and must be held accountable for the crime he committed.”
The death of Abu Akleh, one of the most recognizable faces in reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has sparked outrage around the world, especially after his funeral in Jerusalem was marred by scenes of police beating people present.
Disputes between the sides over the circumstances of his death have overshadowed a visit by US President Joe Biden, scheduled for this month.
The Israeli military said it will continue to investigate the incident and a decision on whether to launch any criminal charges will be made after operational examination.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel was committed to finding out the truth.
Source: CNN Brasil
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