Palestinians reject US report on journalist Abu Akleh’s killing

The Palestinian journalist, working for Qatar-based Aljazeera News Network, was shot dead in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on May 11, 2022.

The US State Department issued a statement earlier on Monday, saying that after “an extremely detailed forensic analysis”, it “could not reach a definitive conclusion regarding the origin of the bullet that killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh".

The statement said that a clear conclusion had been prevented, because ballistic experts determined the bullet was badly damaged.

It also said that gunfire from Israeli forces’ positions “was likely responsible” for the killing of Shireen, but added that it was not intentional and was only the result of what the statement called tragic circumstances during an operation by Israeli forces against Palestinians.   

Now, in addition to the resistance movement, Hamas, the Palestinian Public Prosecution has rejected the US statement as well.

The Palestinian Public Prosecution said that its investigations were based on solid evidence gathered from expert reports, analysis as well as eye witnesses’ accounts.

Palestinian media reported the Public Prosecution as saying that its investigations clearly show that Shireen was killed by direct gunfire from the Israeli regime forces who were present at the scene.

The Public Prosecution also said that its probe definitely shows that no demonstration or armed clashes were taking place when Shireen was shot dead by Israeli forces.

Palestinian officials had earlier said that Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by an Israeli sniper without prior warning, and that the Israeli regime’s military was clearly aware that journalists were present in Jenin.

They also said that Shireen was shot in the head while she was wearing a jacket with the press sign.

American media outlets such as CNN, AP and New York Times also conducted and published their own investigations showing that Shireen was killed by an Israeli bullet.

The same conclusion was announced by Al Jazeera too.   

The US State Department issued its statement two days after the Palestinian Authority handed over to a team of American investigators the bullet that killed Shireen.

The American statement, which has fallen short of condemning the Zionist regime for killing the Palestinian reporter, is seen as yet another sign of the US’ support for Israel.

It is also regarded as another attempt by Washington to cover up crimes that the Zionist regime commits against the Palestinian people on a daily basis.