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US Senator Calls for Declassification of Report on Death of Palestinian-American Journalist
(MENAFN) US Senator Chris Van Hollen has urged for the declassification of a government report regarding the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist working for Al Jazeera. Abu Akleh was tragically shot and killed while covering an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin in May 2022. Her death sparked widespread outrage in the region.
According to Israel, Abu Akleh, who was wearing clearly marked protective press gear, was likely unintentionally shot by an Israeli soldier but may have also been struck by Palestinian fire. However, her family believes she was deliberately targeted, and witnesses present during the incident have claimed that there were no Palestinian fighters firing in the area where she was located.
The US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) conducted an investigation into the incident. However, the findings of the report have not been made public and remain classified. Senator Van Hollen, a Democrat on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, has called for the declassification of the report, emphasizing its significance in shedding light on Abu Akleh's death.
Van Hollen highlighted that the report contains crucial information and findings regarding the conduct of the Israeli military unit involved in the operation, as well as other Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) units operating in the West Bank. While acknowledging that the USSC team faced challenges in conducting an independent investigation due to limited access to key witnesses, the senator emphasized the importance of releasing the report to ensure accountability in the shooting death of a US citizen.
The US State Department, which oversees the USSC, has not yet provided a comment in response to the request for the report's declassification. The call for transparency and accountability in this case underscores the significance of investigating incidents involving journalists and upholding press freedom rights, particularly in conflict zones.
According to Israel, Abu Akleh, who was wearing clearly marked protective press gear, was likely unintentionally shot by an Israeli soldier but may have also been struck by Palestinian fire. However, her family believes she was deliberately targeted, and witnesses present during the incident have claimed that there were no Palestinian fighters firing in the area where she was located.
The US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) conducted an investigation into the incident. However, the findings of the report have not been made public and remain classified. Senator Van Hollen, a Democrat on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, has called for the declassification of the report, emphasizing its significance in shedding light on Abu Akleh's death.
Van Hollen highlighted that the report contains crucial information and findings regarding the conduct of the Israeli military unit involved in the operation, as well as other Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) units operating in the West Bank. While acknowledging that the USSC team faced challenges in conducting an independent investigation due to limited access to key witnesses, the senator emphasized the importance of releasing the report to ensure accountability in the shooting death of a US citizen.
The US State Department, which oversees the USSC, has not yet provided a comment in response to the request for the report's declassification. The call for transparency and accountability in this case underscores the significance of investigating incidents involving journalists and upholding press freedom rights, particularly in conflict zones.
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