Palestinian officers, human rights campaigners, and the household of Shireen Abu Akleh have criticised the Israeli army investigation, which stated there’s a “excessive risk” that the Al Jazeera journalist was “by accident hit” by an Israeli soldier.
The Israeli military, nevertheless, stated it will not be launching a felony investigation into the killing of the veteran Palestinian-American journalist after releasing the outcomes of their very own inquiry on Monday.
The announcement got here even though Al Jazeera Media Community, and a number of other different inquiries by main human rights teams and media organisations, have lent assist to witness accounts that Abu Akleh was shot by an Israeli soldier.
Abu Akleh, 51, was killed on Could 11 whereas overlaying an Israeli raid within the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin, regardless of carrying a helmet and flak jacket clearly marked “PRESS”.
Palestinian witnesses advised Al Jazeera’s The Take podcast that they have been by no means contacted by Israel as a part of the investigation.
Listed here are the reactions to date to the report:
Abu Akleh’s household
In a press release, Abu Akleh’s household rejected the outcomes of the Israeli investigation findings and stated it will proceed to name on the US authorities to hold out a “thorough, impartial, and credible” investigation.
Israel tried to “obscure the reality and keep away from duty for killing Shireen Abu Akleh”, the assertion learn.
“As anticipated, Israel has refused to take duty for murdering Shireen. Our household will not be shocked by this final result because it’s apparent to anybody the Israeli warfare criminals can not examine their very own crimes. Nonetheless, we stay deeply damage, annoyed, and dissatisfied,” the assertion added.
“We are going to proceed to demand that the US authorities observe by with its said commitments to accountability.”
Abu Akleh Household Response to Israel’s Assertion on Shireen’s Killing
We may by no means count on any sort of accountability or reputable investigation from the very entity liable for gunning down an unarmed and clearly identifiable journalist. pic.twitter.com/bTfUqj5KV3
— Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh) September 5, 2022
B’tselem
B’tselem, an Israeli human rights group, stated Abu Akleh’s killing is a part of Israel’s “outrageous open hearth coverage”.
“It’s not an investigation, it’s whitewash; it was no mistake, it’s coverage,” the group stated in a press release.
“Monumental public and worldwide stress was wanted to make Israel spurt a faint confession that one in every of its troopers had killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, whereas on the similar time shaking off any duty for her demise,” it stated.
“The killing of Abu Akleh is the predictable results of Israel’s outrageous open hearth coverage within the Occupied Territories. This coverage claims increasingly victims whereas the whitewash continues undisturbed.”
B’Tselem in response to the army’s announcement on the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh:
It’s not an investigation, it’s whitewash; it was no mistake, it’s coverage. > pic.twitter.com/XOhfSyoGQV
— B’Tselem בצלם بتسيلم (@btselem) September 5, 2022
Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian politician
Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi additionally slammed the report as “disgusting”.
“Apparent obfuscation, misdirection, & lies. The Israeli military who’s liable for the homicide of Shireen Abu Akleh has determined to exonerate itself. Disgusting,” Ashrawi wrote on Twitter.
Apparent obfuscation, misdirection, & lies. The Israeli military who’s liable for the homicide of Shireen Abu Akleh has determined to exonerate itself. Disgusting.
Israel admits ‘extremely possible’ soldier mistakenly killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh https://t.co/z5zRjd8uj8
— Hanan Ashrawi (@DrHananAshrawi) September 5, 2022
Omar Shakir, HRW
Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, stated the US-based rights group stands “in solidarity” with Abu Akleh’s household.
“All of the proof factors to Israeli forces having killed her,” Shakir wrote on Twitter.
“The Israeli military probe was a whitewash. Victims of Israeli abuse have confronted a wall of impunity for years. We echo the household’s name for the US to research.”
We @hrw stand in solidarity in w/ #ShireenAbuAkleh’s household. All of the proof factors to Israeli forces having killed her. The Israeli military probe was a whitewash. Victims of Israeli abuse have confronted a wall of impunity for years. We echo the household’s name for the US to research. https://t.co/E9zDTZVFej
— Omar Shakir (@OmarSShakir) September 5, 2022
Palestinian Authority
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, stated the report is yet one more try by Israel to keep away from duty for Abu Akleh’s homicide.
“All proof, details and investigations which were performed proved that Israel was the perpetrator and that it had killed Shireen and it ought to bear duty for its crime,” Abu Rudeineh was quoted as saying by the state-run Wafa information company.
He stated the Palestinian management will proceed to “observe up” with the “related worldwide our bodies”, together with the Worldwide Legal Courtroom, on all recordsdata associated to Abu Akleh’s killing.
Israel is not going to be allowed to “escape punishment” for its ongoing crimes towards the Palestinian individuals, Abu Rudeineh added.
Hamas
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated the findings launched by the Israeli “occupation military” is a “new try to flee full duty for [Abu Akleh’s] assassination”, which was “confirmed” by all of the accessible details and proof.
“The killing of journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh … is an all-out crime that the occupation should be held accountable for,” Qassem stated.