Status: 07/03/2022 00:10 a.m
In the case of journalist Abu Akleh, who was killed in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority handed over the bullet to US experts. They should examine the ball and, if possible, clarify which side is responsible for the reporter’s death.
More than seven weeks after the death of al-Jazeera journalist Shirin Abu Akle in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority says it has released the bullet that killed her. Palestinian Attorney General Akram Khatib said the bullet was handed over to US forensic experts.
They would examine the bullet and then return it to the Palestinian Authority. The authority had been assured that no changes would be made to the ball, Chatib continued.
Palestinian journalist Abu Akleh, who also has US citizenship, was shot dead on May 11 while reporting on an Israeli operation on the outskirts of the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin in the West Bank – a stronghold of armed Palestinian groups. She was wearing a bulletproof vest that said “Press” and a hard hat. Another journalist was shot during the operation.
Israel shall not get bullet
Investigations by the Palestinian Authority and the UN, as well as research by Abu Akle’s colleagues from al-Jazeera, suggest that she was killed by a shot by the Israeli military. Israel initially blamed militant Palestinians, but later backtracked.
The origin of the shot could not be determined with certainty, it said. To do this, the ball must be examined. The Palestinian Authority refused to hand over the bullet to Israel from the start.
Clarification ahead of Biden visit
Palestinian sources said they hoped the issue would be clarified before US President Joe Biden visited the country.