West Bank, Palestine- Presidential spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh has said that the country still holds Israel accountable for the death of Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh.
The Presidential spokesperson’s comments follow the recent results released by the United States government which was tasked to do the forensic ballistic test to determine the origin of the bullet that killed the journalist on May 11, 2022.
According to the United States Security Coordinator (USSC), it could not make a definitive conclusion that the bullet that killed the Al Jazeera journalist was intentional.
“By summarizing both investigations, the USSC concluded that gunfire from (IDF Israeli Defense Forces) positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh. The USSC found no reason to believe that this was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against factions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
We will remain engaged with Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) on the next steps and urge accountability. We again offer our deepest condolences to the Abu Akleh family” read a statement from the USSC.
However, Rudeineh said in a statement that the Palestinian side holds Israel fully responsible for the killing of Shireen and called on the US to maintain its credibility.
“We won’t accept, under any circumstances, the tampering with the outcome of the Palestinian investigation. We will pursue the case of her assassination in international courts, especially before the Criminal Court,” read the statement.
On Saturday, the bullet that killed Shireen was received by USSC’s, Lieutenant General Michael R. Fenzel, who oversees the Israel and the Palestinian Authority, for a professional and independent ballistic examination.
The ballistic test was conducted in an Israeli forensic laboratory with experienced representatives from the US attending all the stages of the test to determine the weapon from which it was fired.
