Hadash Reject Army Probe into Shireen Abu Akleh Killing

Hadash rejected the results of the Israeli army investigation into the murder of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The army report on the killing of Abu Akleh is “a new attempt to evade responsibility for her murder,” Hadash said.

The military on Monday said there was a “high probability an Israeli soldier accidentally killed” veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh nearly four months ago, based on its investigation into the incident. The 51-year-old Palestinian-American journalist, who was wearing a vest marked “Press” and a helmet, was killed during clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen while covering an Israeli military operation in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank on May 11.

The occupation army initially blamed Palestinian gunmen for the shooting, but later acknowledged that Abu Akleh could also have been killed by Israeli soldiers.

Shireen Abu Akleh (Photo: Al-Ittihad)

“It was clear from the start that the Israeli army killed Shireen Abu Akleh. Now, even they admit it. Shireen’s killer must be brought to justice. The international community must hold the Israeli government accountable, and make sure it doesn’t cover-up yet another killing of a civilian in the occupied Palestinian territories!” said MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash – Joint List). The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem accused the army of a whitewash. “It was no mistake. It’s policy,” the NGO said. Israeli rights groups say Israeli investigations of the shooting deaths of Palestinians often languish for months or years before being quietly closed and that soldiers are rarely held accountable.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=30433