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Shireen Abu Aqla: Israel won't co-operate with US death probe Shireen Abu Aqla: Israel rejects US reporter death probe as mistake
(about 4 hours later)
Shireen Abu Aqla was killed during an Israeli raid in Jenin refugee camp Shireen Abu Aqla was shot in the head while covering an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank
Israel will not co-operate with any "external investigation" into the death of journalist Shireen Abu Aqla. Israel has called the US Department of Justice's decision to investigate the killing of Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Aqla a "mistake".
Defence Minister Benny Gantz said it was "a mistake" for US authorities to open an investigation into the killing. Outgoing Defence Minister Benny Gantz said he had told US representatives that Israel would not co-operate.
The Palestinian-American correspondent was shot in the head while covering a raid in the occupied West Bank in May. The DoJ and FBI declined to comment, but Abu Aqla's family praised the "important step toward accountability".
Eyewitness said she was shot by Israeli troops, while an Israeli official said there was a "high probability" she was killed by one of its soldiers. The Al Jazeera correspondent was shot in the head during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank in May.
On Monday, US media outlet Axios reported that the US Justice Department had informed Israel's Justice Ministry that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had opened an investigation into her death. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) concluded that one of its soldiers probably killed her, but called her death unintentional and ruled out a criminal inquiry.
Mr Gantz said that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has conducted a "professional, independent investigation" that had been shared with US authorities, adding that he had told American officials that "we stand by the IDF's soldiers, that we will not cooperate with an external investigation, and will not enable intervention to internal investigations". Israel says 'high probability' it killed reporter
Ms Abu Aqla - one of the most recognisable faces of journalism in the Arab world - was killed on 11 May while covering an Israeli army raid in Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, which had witnessed gun battles between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants. She was wearing a helmet and blue flak jacket marked with the word "press" at the time of her killing. Family rejects US report on Shireen Abu Aqla death
Eyewitnesses and Palestinian officials said she was shot by Israeli troops - a finding later backed by the United Nations and multiple investigations by media outlets. A US review also found it was "likely" that Israeli soldiers fired the fatal bullet. Shireen Abu Aqla, who was 51, arrived in Jenin refugee camp on 11 May to report on an Israeli army raid which had seen gun battles break out between soldiers and Palestinian militants.
In September, a senior IDF official said there was a high probability that she was shot "by mistake by an IDF soldier, and of course he didn't identify her as a journalist". She was wearing a helmet and blue flak jacket marked with the word "press" when she was killed while walking along a road with other journalists, one of whom was also shot and wounded.
The official added that investigators had spoken to the soldier involved: "He told us what he did; and if he did it, it was done by mistake. Journalists, bystanders and Palestinian officials said the gunfire came from Israeli troops stationed about 200m (656ft) away - allegations which was later backed by investigations by the UN Human Rights Office and multiple media organisations.
"I want to emphasise the fighting environment that these soldiers were under. They were confined in a protected vehicle with multi-dimensional fire from every direction." The US state department said in July that the US Security Co-ordinator (USSC) for Israel and the Palestinian Authority had concluded that "gunfire from IDF positions was likely responsible for the death". He also found that there was "no reason to believe that this was intentional".
However, video evidence from the moment Ms Abu Aqla was shot does not support the claim of militant gunfire in the spot that journalists and bystanders had gathered. The IDF initially said that it was not possible to know who killed Abu Aqla. But in September a senior official told journalists that there was a high probability that she was shot "by mistake by an IDF soldier, and of course he didn't identify her as a journalist".
Israeli troops were believed to be 200m (656ft) away, and the footage shows repeated fire for several minutes towards the area where the journalists were walking. Abu Aqla's family heavily criticised both the USSC's and the IDF's findings and demanded that the US carry out an independent FBI investigation into the killing of a US citizen. Their call also received the support by dozens of members of the US Congress, including more than 20 Democratic senators.
Ms Abu Aqla was born in Jerusalem but spent time in the United States, obtaining US citizenship. She spent most of her career covering the Israel-Palestinian conflict, notably for Al Jazeera's Arabic news channel. (July 2022) Shireen Abu Aqla's brother Tony (left): "It is very hard to live without her"
"I chose journalism to be close to people. It might not be easy to change the reality but at least I could bring their voice to the world," she once said. (July 2022) Shireen Abu Aqla's brother Tony (left): "It is very hard to live without her"
On Monday, Israel's Channel 14 TV and US website Axios reported that the US Department of Justice had recently notified the Israeli justice ministry that the FBI had opened an investigation.
Axios said the probe could lead to a US request to investigate the soldiers who were involved in the operation in Jenin, and that Israel would almost certainly reject it.
The probe is also likely to create further tension President Joe Biden's administration and Israel's incoming government, which will be led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
"The decision taken by the US justice department to conduct an investigation into the tragic passing of Shireen Abu Aqla is a mistake," said Mr Gantz in a statement.
"The IDF has conducted a professional, independent investigation, which was presented to American officials with whom the details were shared.
He added: "I have delivered a message to US representatives that we stand by the IDF's soldiers, that we will not co-operate with an external investigation, and will not enable intervention to internal investigations."
Abu Aqla's family said in a statement on Tuesday that they were "encouraged by the news".
"We hope that the United States will use all of the investigative tools at its disposal to get answers about Shireen's killing and hold those who are responsible for this atrocity accountable.
"We call on all parties with any evidence to respond to investigatory requests from the US States and not stand in the way of justice."
The family also expressed hope that the FBI investigation would be "truly independent, credible, and thorough, following the evidence where it leads, up and down the chain of command".