In the independent investigation into the killing of American citizen Palestinian journalist Sirin Abu Akile in an Israeli operation in the West Bank, the US State Department said that the journalist’s death may have been caused by “fire, probably by the Israeli army”; however, he stated that the source of the lead “could not be determined with certainty”.
After a detailed forensic analysis within the scope of the investigation, it was stated that the source of the lead that killed Al Jazeera reporter Abu Akile “could not be determined with certainty”, but that “probably” the fire opened by the Israeli army may have caused this.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that there was no reason to believe this was intentional.
“Ballistics experts determined that the bullet was heavily damaged, which prevented reaching a clear conclusion,” the statement said.
51-year-old Abu Akile was covering Israel’s operation against Jenin when he was shot on May 11, while wearing a vest with the inscription ‘Press’.
Qatar-based Al Jazeera claimed that Abu Akile was killed “intentionally” and “in cold blood” by Israeli soldiers.
Israeli officials, on the other hand, rejected the accusations from the international arena, and then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett argued that the bullet that killed Abu Akile may have been fired by the Palestinians.
The attack of the Israeli security forces against those who attended the funeral of Abu Akile drew international public reaction.
Summarizing the investigations by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the US Security Coordinator concluded that Abu Aqila was probably killed by gunfire from the location of Israeli soldiers, but there is no reason why this was deliberate.
The Israeli army stated that it will continue to investigate the shooting of Abu Akile. It was stated that the decision on whether to initiate a criminal investigation in this regard will be made depending on the outcome of the operational review.
Veysel Abu Yusuf, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, accused the United States of protecting Israel.
“The truth is clear, but the US administration is stalling in announcing it,” Abu Yusuf said.
In the research conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, it was concluded that the Israeli forces killed Şirin Abu Akile, not the Palestinians.