‘High possibility’ Palestinian journalist was killed by IDF soldier, Israel admits

Israel has admitted it was a “high possibility” that one of its soldiers fired the shot that killed Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during a raid in the West Bank four months ago.

Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh died while covering the operation near the town of Jenin which the Israeli military said was targeting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.

An official probe by the Israel Defence Forces found she was likely shot on May 11 by an Israeli soldier who misidentified her.

But officials said no criminal charges would be filed.

Abu Akleh’s family said they were “deeply hurt, frustrated, and disappointed”.

The IDF said the unidentified soldier had been using a telescopic device — suggesting he fired the shot from a distance — but had come under fire himself at the moment he fired the shot that killed her.

The journalist had been wearing a helmet and a vest identifying her as a press worker. Video evidence from the scene appeared to suggest the area was quiet in the moments before she was shot.

An Israeli official speaking to the AP news agency on condition of anonymity because of military briefing guidelines said: “He misidentified her. His reports in real time…absolutely point to a misidentification.”

The IDF analysed mobile telephone data including audio and video files, GPS data and news reports to conclude Abu Akleh had been standing close to a group of armed Palestinian men who fired towards an Israeli armoured vehicle, Haaretz reported.

The newspaper quoted a high-ranking IDF official as saying: “It cannot be unequivocally determined who shot her.

“It needs to be said that there were both IDF soldiers and Palestinians at the scene. The most likely scenario is that a soldier mistakenly fired the shots, while he himself was being fired at.

“The shots were fired while they were in an armoured vehicle, and the soldiers responded by firing back at numerous targets. It’s possible that Shireen was accidentally shot during this.”

Al Jazeera and Abu Akleh’s family said it was an attempt to escape responsibility.

“This is clearly an attempt to circumvent the opening of a criminal investigation,” Walid Al-Omari, the broadcaster’s local bureau chief, told AP.

Her family said: “Our family is not surprised by this outcome since it’s obvious to anyone that Israeli war criminals cannot investigate their own crimes.

“Since Shireen was killed our family has called for a thorough, independent, and credible US investigation that leads to accountability, which is the bare minimum the US government shouold do for one of their own citizens.”

Israel initially denied its forces were responsible for killing Abu Akleh, but later called for a joint investigation into the shooting.

Palestinians officials rejected the offer, saying they do not trust Israel.