The Palestinian Authority (PA) slammed the United States (US) on Monday after Washington released an inconclusive report on the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh that failed to recognise Israel’s role in the incident.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas demanded that Washington “hold the Israeli government fully responsible for the crime of killing the martyr Abu Akleh,” his spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah said. Referring to the recently released State Department report on the incident, Abbas urged the US to “maintain its credibility.”
PA Public Prosecutor Akram al-Khatib, meanwhile, said he was “surprised” by the US report, noting, “the technical data in our possession indicates that the condition of the shell is viable for matching with the firearm [that shot it].” Al-Khatib thus dismissed the US’ assessment as “unacceptable.”
A ballistic examination of the bullet that led to the death of Shireen Abu Akleh has been concluded.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 4, 2022
The physical condition of the bullet, presented by the PA to the USSC, does not allow for a conclusive determination of the source of fire.
The full statement:
“The competent authority to conduct the investigation legally is the Palestinian Public Prosecution, and any results of investigations conducted by any other bodies are not legally binding,” Having conducted its own separate investigation, Al-Khatib’s office said in a statement. It added, “Based on the investigations, Israel bears full responsibility for the deliberate assassination [of Akleh].”
It noted that there is “irrefutable” evidence showing that Israeli forces fired even though there were no armed confrontations in the area at the time.
In a similar vein, senior PA official Hussein al-Sheikh rebuked the US, saying that the PA “will not permit attempts to conceal the truth or timid comments in indicting Israel.”
Likewise, Hussein al-Sheikh, the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said, “The occupation government bears responsibility,” adding that the PA will now seek recourse at the International Criminal Court.
Once again, I would like to express my condolences following the passing of journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. The defense establishment is committed to uncovering the truth. In this case, despite the forensic investigation, it was not possible to reach a definitive conclusion. pic.twitter.com/6wncJOrWcK
— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) July 4, 2022
The criticism from Ramallah comes after the US State Department released “an extremely detailed forensic analysis” carried out by “independent, third-party examiners” and “overseen by the US Security Coordinator (USSC).” In the report, Washington said that it had been unable to “reach a definitive conclusion regarding the origin of the bullet that killed” the Palestinian-American journalist. The report reasoned that ballistic experts had failed to come to a “clear conclusion,” as the bullet was “badly damaged.”
Washington claimed that the USSC had been “granted full access” to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian Authority (PA) investigations “over the last several weeks.”
The USSC concluded “that gunfire from IDF positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh” but also “found no reason to believe” that the shooting “was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against factions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”
US concludes that the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was carried out by Israeli force but “the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation which followed a series of terrorist attacks in Israel.”
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 4, 2022
Justification for murder of their own citizen pic.twitter.com/NOUO2xhV7d
In response to the report, a statement released by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s office yesterday said that although “the IDF investigation was unable to determine” the perpetrator, it had at least been “able to determine conclusively that there was no intention to harm her.”
“Israel expresses sorrow over her death,” Lapid’s office said. Lapid added that his country “recognises the importance of freedom of the press and safeguarding journalists as they carry out their duties.” He also extended his “full and unequivocal backing” to the IDF, whose soldiers “risk their lives to defend the citizens of Israel from terrorism.”
“Israels international impunity remains unchallenged” @btselem #ShireenAbuAkleh pic.twitter.com/yXefPLLsGt
— Mairav Zonszein מרב זונשיין (@MairavZ) July 4, 2022
Notably, Lapid’s statement steered clear from making any mention of the report’s conclusion that IDF soldiers likely fired the bullet. The PA’s report also determined that Akleh had been shot from behind by IDF forces. Moreover, independent investigations carried out by major media outlets such as The New York Times, the Associated Press, and CNN also concluded that IDF forces fired the fatal bullet.
A report released by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) earlier this month also found Israeli forces responsible for the death of the Al Jazeera journalist. The UN body called on Israel to conduct a “prompt, thorough, transparent, independent and impartial investigation” and hold the perpetrators to account.
In their own statement, Akleh’s family said that the State Department’s report had left them “incredulous”. Citing the various investigations carried out by rights groups and media organisations, the family said that “the focus on the bullet has always been misplaced” and that “it was an attempt by the Israeli side to spin the narrative in its favour as if this were some kind of police whodunit that could be solved by a CSI-style forensic test.”
The State of Palestine rejects the United States’ dismissal of the Israeli occupying forces’ intentional targeting of and killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, as mere “tragic circumstances” and not an intentional war crime; pic.twitter.com/Cuc9dvBNhm
— State of Palestine - MFA (@pmofa) July 4, 2022
The family added that the US’s belief that the bullet “likely came from Israeli positions” was “cold comfort.” “The truth is that the Israeli military killed Shireen according to policies that view all Palestinians - civilian, press or otherwise - as legitimate targets,” the family posited.
They further slammed the US government, saying that they had hoped that the investigation would “focus on finding the responsible parties and holding them accountable.” They asserted that the investigation instead focused on “barely-relevant details” and then assumed “good faith on behalf of a recalcitrant and hostile occupying power.”
Statement by our family. We will continue to call for justice and accountability and call upon the UN and ICC to take immediate action in order to bring justice. This doesn’t end here. #JusticeforShireen pic.twitter.com/n0EoMmvRRY
— Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh) July 4, 2022
On May 11, Akleh was shot in the head while covering an IDF raid in the West Bank, despite wearing a press jacket that identified her as a journalist. While Al Jazeera and the PA blamed Israel for killing her, Israeli leaders have instead accused Palestinian militants.
Israel has since conceded that its forces could have shot Akleh but said this could only be confirmed if the PA hand the bullet over to Israeli authorities. However, The PA has so far rejected Israel’s requests. The Attorney General confirmed that the PA has no plans to hand the bullet to Israel. The US has since returned the bullet to the PA.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera has announced that it will be referring Akleh’s death to the International Criminal Court.