US State Dept. Releases Findings After Examining Bullet that Killed Palestinian Journalist, Blames IDF

11
Yellow tape marks bullet holes on a tree and a portrait and flowers create a makeshift memorial on o May 19, 2022, at the site where Palestinian-American Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed in the West Bank city of Jenin. The Palestinian Authority on Saturday, July 2, 2022, said it has given the bullet that killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to American forensic experts, taking a step toward resolving a standoff with Israel over the investigation into her death. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials have concluded that gunfire from Israeli positions likely killed Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh but that there was “no reason to believe” her shooting was intentional, the State Department said Monday.

Join our WhatsApp group

Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


The finding, in a statement from State Department spokesman Ned Price, came after what the U.S. said was inconclusive tests by independent ballistics experts under U.S. oversight of the bullet fragment recovered from Abu Akleh’s body.

“Ballistic experts determined the bullet was badly damaged, which prevented a clear conclusion” as to who fired the shot, Price said in the statement.

Abu Akleh, a veteran correspondent and U.S and Palestinian citizen who was well known throughout the Arab world, was shot and killed while covering an Israeli military raid on May 11 in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian eyewitnesses, including her crew, say Israeli troops killed her and that there were no militants in the immediate vicinity.

Israel says she was killed during a complex battle with Palestinian militants and that only a forensic analysis of the bullet would confirm whether it was fired by an Israeli soldier or a Palestinian militant. It has strongly denied she was deliberately targeted, but says an Israeli soldier may have hit her by mistake during an exchange of fire with a militant.

U.S. security officials had examined results of both Palestinian and Israeli investigations and “concluded that gunfire from IDF positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh,” Price said.

The U.S. “found no reason to believe that this was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against factions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” Price said.


Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


Connect with VINnews

Join our WhatsApp group


11 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ari
Ari
1 year ago

How do we know the provided bullet was the one that killed her?

reb yid
reb yid
1 year ago

In other words, since we can’t figure out who did it, most likely it’s the Jews.

Yoda
Yoda
1 year ago

Is “inconclusive” just another way of saying, “We’re afraid of unrest, if we speak the truth on this matter.” Another relevant question: Did the U.S. State Department actually see the bullet fragments removed? Was this process filmed (as is often the case in the US?) Didn’t Professor Dershowitz prove (in the O.J. Simpson case) that ballistic tests can be forged?

Democrats always back the islamic terrorists.
Democrats always back the islamic terrorists.
1 year ago

Basically forensic results were inconclusive so we looked at the Israeli investigation reports and the pali terror regime investigation reports and didnt investigate anything ourselves and decided since the Israelis say it is possible it was the IDF and the pali terror regime of course blames Israel, so we will of course blame Israel too because when it comes to Israel we always side with their enemies. The biden admin is riddled with Jew hating terroist supporters including the checks some boxes but is a total moron press secretary.

Democrats always back the islamic terrorists.
Democrats always back the islamic terrorists.
1 year ago

Of course they blame the IDF, the Biden admin always side with the pali terrorists.

Voice of Reason
Voice of Reason
1 year ago

But the acts of terror perpetrated by the Palis are always intentional. The Biden administration (following the footsteps of Obama) will never acknowledge this. The terror loving hypocrisy of the Democrats is what produces such fine specimens as Tlaib, Omar, and rest of the Squad y”sh.

Kol
Kol
1 year ago

She is dead only if the IDF did it , I think israel should not allow any (fake)news reporters when operating against terrorists !

Turk
Turk
1 year ago

What did you expect the US STATE Dept to say

lee
lee
1 year ago

“a veteran correspondent and U.S and Palestinian citizen”
what’s a Palestinian citizen? those exist?

Marcia
Marcia
1 year ago

It’s inconclusive BUT, Israel did it