The IDF investigation states: There is a high probability that an IDF soldier shot and killed Shirin Abu Aqla

After Israel has so far denied responsibility for the shooting of the Al Jazeera journalist in Jenin, a final investigation submitted by the commander of the Central Command reveals that Abu Aqla was apparently accidentally shot by an IDF fighter, who thought he was returning fire at armed Palestinians. However, no This can be determined with certainty, and criminal suspicion is ruled out

Amir Bohbot and Barak Ravid

05/09/2022

Monday, September 5, 2022, 4:00 p.m

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On video: an Al Jazeera journalist was shot dead in an exchange of fire in Jenin (screenshot, documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law)

Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla was apparently killed by an accidental shot by an IDF soldier - this is according to an IDF investigation, to which a senior officer referred today (Monday).

This, after Israel has so far disclaimed responsibility for the shooting, despite several international investigations that have established that Abu Aqla was shot by IDF soldiers. According to the investigation, the soldier who shot identified the journalist as apparently the gunman wearing the helmet and bulletproof vest.

However, the IDF emphasized that this cannot be determined with certainty.

"The fighters were in a situation where they were inside a protected vessel and were being fired upon from several directions, and at that time they returned fire at a considerable number of places where they identified armed men or fire that was fired at them," the senior said. "It is possible that in one of these incidents, by mistake, an IDF soldier shot and hit Shirin. We checked all the opening fire instructions. And overall, we did not find any problem with the implementation or briefing on the battle procedure and execution of the incident."

He added that "in all the investigations carried out, not a single IDF soldier aimed at an uninvolved person, nor did he aim at a female journalist and hit her.

All they did was hit a combat space, at people who were shooting at them or at a space from which they were being shot at.

The space itself is a very difficult space.

Urban, crowded, shooting from windows, shooting from rooftops and alleys.

The fighters were at risk, both accurate shooting, and indiscriminate shooting directed at them.

We regret her death, and continue to act in accordance with the values ​​of the IDF, and the spirit of the IDF in a professional manner while avoiding harm to those not involved.

We will continue to enter wherever we need to in order to harm terrorism."

Senior Israeli officials told Walla! that Israel had informed the administration of United States President Joe Biden in advance about the findings of the investigation. Yesterday, Israel's ambassador to Washington, Mike Herzog, briefed senior officials at the US State Department. At the same time, senior officials in the Secretary of State's office The security briefed the US ambassador to Israel Tom Neides.

She was wearing a helmet and a helmet. Abu Aqla (Photo: Reuters)

The senior officer referred to the investigation conducted by the Chief Military Prosecutor, at the end of which it was decided that there was no suspicion of criminality.

"At the end of the examination of this entire investigation, the material was transferred to the special counsel, and she examined everything.

During the event, she asked us clarifying questions that were directed to the investigative team for further examination.

She examined everything and came to the conclusion that there was no suspicion of committing a criminal offense, so she decided not to open a police investigation."

The senior officer was asked if it is known how many bullets the fighter who apparently hit the Al Jazeera journalist fired.

"Individuals, less than twenty in all in all the fighting. Half of them in her direction, half in another direction. The shooting was between the targets and the space from which fire was fired in the direction of the fighters' jeep. There may have been an accidental identification, but it was a deliberate shot, at the jeep He looked through the scope with a 4x magnification, and saw relatively well the space he was in. It was found next to a tree and a fence, in a place where the field of vision is about 200 meters from it. Again, he is inside a protected jeep,

More in Walla!

USA: Shirin Abu Aqla was probably shot by the IDF - but it cannot be determined for sure

To the full article

On video: Documentation from the body cameras of the IDF soldiers from the Jenin refugee camp on the day journalist Shirin Abu-Aqla was killed (Photo: DOC)

The senior officer referred to the Chief of Staff's position in the incident. "The Chief of Staff supports the fighters. He thinks they acted professionally in this operation. It is impossible to anticipate all the scenarios of what happens in such a case. Of course, we would like not to harm anyone not involved in any of our activities. I I think at the end of the probabilities of what could have been that he just accidentally recognized her. If it was him, that's what happened. He shot the ball somewhere, planned his shot and accidentally he recognized her."

The bullet that resulted in the death of Abu Aqla (photo: Walla! system, documentation on social networks according to Section 27A of the Copyright Law)

At the beginning of the IDF's initial investigation, close to Abu Aqla's death, military officials said that there was equal probability between the Palestinian side and the IDF regarding who shot the Al Jazeera article in May of this year.

The senior military official explained today that the activity of the Dovdevan unit began with the activity of undercover agents and was intended to arrest two wanted persons.

One was located and the other was not in the building, and only after the forces left the area was the report received in the unit about the killing of the journalist.

After that, an investigation was carried out by the Judea and Samaria Division, which was presented to Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi. An investigation was also carried out by the commando brigade Manny Liberty.

The initial conclusions presented were that it was not possible to determine with certainty the source of the shot that hit and killed Abu Aqla.

After that, the bullet was transferred to the Americans and with the cooperation of their representative in Israel, the bullet was transferred to the laboratory, which also determined that it was impossible to determine from which weapon it was fired due to the condition of the bullet.

The officer concluded that "she may have been hit by an IDF soldier who accidentally shot her, and it may be by a Palestinian gunman.

It is not possible to determine with certainty who hurt her.

It should also be said that in the area from which a shot could have been fired in her direction, there were not only IDF fighters, but also Palestinian militants who fired."

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