Gunfire that killed Palestinian-American journalist likely came from Israeli military positions, U.S. says

Though the bullet’s origin couldn’t be decided, the U.S. safety coordinator, who oversaw the evaluation, “concluded that gunfire from IDF positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh,” the State Department assertion stated, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. The coordinator was granted entry to each Israeli and Palestinian investigations.

During the evaluation, the coordinator “found no reason to believe that this was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances” throughout an Israeli-led military operation “against factions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad … which followed a series of terrorist attacks in Israel,” officers wrote.

The findings come shortly earlier than President Joe Biden’s journey to the Middle East, the place he’ll go to Israeli officers to affirm the 2 nations’ “unbreakable bond” and work to “deepen Israel’s integration to the region … which is good for peace and good for Israeli security,” the president said at a news conference in Madrid on Thursday.

“The United States appreciates and continues to encourage cooperation between Israel and the [Palestinian Authority] in this important case,” officers stated, pledging to stay engaged with the problem “on the next steps and urge accountability.”