The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has demanded a “public progress update” from United States authorities on the FBI probe into the Israeli military’s killing of Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, who was shot dead in the occupied West Bank in 2022.
In an open letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI chief Kash Patel, the CPJ said on Thursday evening that “the effectively stagnant status of this case is inconsistent with ensuring the security of US citizens anywhere in the world.” It said the “lack of concrete progress” represents a failure by the US government to respond to the “killing of one of its citizens by a foreign military”.
The letter noted that there had been no formal interviews with witnesses, “despite the willingness of multiple witnesses to cooperate”, and no signs of FBI activity to gather evidence in Israel or Palestine. Abu Akleh, a longtime TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, was covering Israeli army raids in Jenin when she was killed by Israeli forces on May 11, 2022, while wearing a clearly marked press vest.
Israel initially accused Palestinian fighters of her death, but later the Israeli military said “it is not possible to unequivocally determine the source of the gunfire which hit” Abu Akleh, adding there was a “high possibility” she was hit by Israeli fire. Many independent investigations by CNN, AP, and The Washington Post concluded she was deliberately targeted, the CPJ letter noted.
The CPJ asked for a public update on the investigation, a commitment to a timeline, and public release of findings, stressing the need for an “impartial and independent” probe free from political considerations. Abu Akleh’s family said “justice remains elusive” and that the lack of justice “sends a dangerous message that journalists can be targeted without consequence.”
Abu Akleh’s death became a symbol of the Palestinian struggle. Since her killing, Israel has killed 258 journalists and media workers, the CPJ reported. “The prevailing culture of complete impunity enjoyed by Israel is a direct factor in the continued targeting of journalists without deterrence,” said Sara Qudah, CPJ’s regional director.
Source: www.aljazeera.com