USA: We welcome the IDF's investigation into the killing of journalist Abu Aqla

The foreign broadcaster in Washington said that "it is important to accept responsibility in this case" in order to "prevent similar incidents in the future".

This follows the army's admission that the Al Jazeera journalist was most likely killed by IDF fire

news agencies

06/09/2022

Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 07:42 Updated: 08:01

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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)

The United States welcomed tonight (Tuesday) the IDF investigation that determined that Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla was apparently killed by an accidental shot by a soldier. It called for accountability in this case, in order to prevent its recurrence in the future. Abu Aqla was a citizen American, and in Washington they demanded explanations from the Israelis about her death.

"We welcome the investigation that Israel did regarding this tragic incident, and we emphasize once again the importance of accepting responsibility in this case, as well as changing policies and procedures, in order to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future."

Until yesterday's investigation, Israel refused to accept Responsibility for the shooting, despite several international investigations that determined that Abu Aqla was shot by IDF soldiers.

According to the investigation, the fighter Shira apparently identified the journalist as the gunman wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest. However, the IDF stressed that this cannot be determined with certainty and it is still possible that she was killed by Palestinian gunmen.

Senior Israeli officials said to Voila!

that Israel informed the Biden administration 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 Defense Minister's Office briefed the United States Ambassador to Israel, Tom Neides.

She had American citizenship.

Abu Aqla (photo: official website, from Facebook)

A senior officer in the IDF, who briefed journalists on the investigation, said that the military prosecutor's office will not open a criminal investigation. According to him, the investigation revealed that no soldier directed the shooting at the journalist deliberately

. This time they returned fire at quite a number of places where they identified armed men or fire that was fired at them," said the official. "It is possible that in one of these incidents, by mistake, an IDF soldier shot and hit Shirin. We checked all the instructions for opening fire. No problem with the implementation or briefing on the battle procedure and execution of the event."

More in Walla!

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

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• Shirin Abu Aqla

• Al Jazeera

• United States

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