Sireen Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera journalist who was shot dead in the occupied West Bank on May 11, was murdered by an Israeli soldier in a “war crime,” according to AFP, citing a Palestinian investigation that concluded on Thursday.
The report presented by Palestinian Authority attorney-general Akram Al-Khateeb said, Abu Akleh was killed by a 5.56-millimeter armour-piercing round fired from a Ruger Mini-14 rifle adding the bullet holes in a nearby tree indicated “targeting of the upper parts of the body with the intent of killing.”
Hussein al Sheikh, a senior PA official, said a copy of the report had been sent to US authorities, and that copies would also be given to Abu Akleh’s family and Al Jazeera.
The Israeli government was quick to condemn the Palestinian report’s findings, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz declaring that the Israeli army would never target journalists.
Meanwhile, citing a lack of trust, Palestinian authorities refused to hand over the bullet to Israeli authorities for further investigation.
