Israeli soldier intentionally shot Al Jazeera reporter, says Palestinian official

The Palestinian Authority mentioned on Thursday its investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh confirmed that she was shot by an Israeli soldier in a “deliberate murder”.

Israel angrily denied the accusation and mentioned it was persevering with its personal investigations into the dying of Abu Akleh, who died on May 11 whereas she was overlaying an Israeli army raid within the metropolis of Jenin within the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli military had mentioned beforehand that she might need been shot by chance by one in every of its troopers or by a Palestinian militant in an alternate of fireside.

Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al-Khatib informed reporters that its enquiry confirmed there had been no militants near Abu Akleh when she died.

ALSO READ | Husband of trainer killed in Texas taking pictures dies of coronary heart assault 2 days later

“The only source of fire in that place came from the occupation forces with the intention to kill,” Al-Khatib mentioned, referring to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

He added that Abu Akleh, who had been sporting a helmet and a press vest that clearly marked her as a journalist, had tried to flee with some fellow reporters as the primary photographs rang out. “It represents a war crime,” Al-Khatib mentioned.

Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV Network mentioned it will refer the killing to the International Criminal Court (ICC). learn extra

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz rejected the findings.

“Any claim that the IDF intentionally harms journalists or uninvolved civilians, is a blatant lie,” he wrote on Twitter.

ALSO READ | 11 infants killed in hearth at neonatal unit in Senegalese Hospital

He reiterated his name for the Palestinians to cooperate with Israel within the investigation and hand over the bullet for ballistic assessments to see if it matched an Israeli army gun.

The Palestinians say they don’t belief Israel and have refused to carry a joint probe.

Al-Khatib mentioned assessments confirmed that the bullet that killed Abu Akleh was a 5.56 mm spherical fired from a Ruger Mini-14 semiautomatic rifle, which is utilized by the Israeli army.

That identical 5.56 calibre may also be fired from M-16 rifles which might be carried by many Palestinian militants. Al-Khatib didn’t say how he was certain it had come from an Israeli rifle.

Israel has mentioned the one method to make sure if it was fired by one in every of its troopers was to analyse the bullet and see if the markings on it matched the barrel of an Israeli gun.

“I continue to call on the PA to hand over the bullet and findings. We are prepared and willing to conduct an investigation in collaboration with international actors,” Gantz mentioned on Thursday.