In a recent development, US Senator Chris Van Hollen has called for the declassification of a government report concerning the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Abu Akleh, a renowned journalist covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for two decades, was tragically shot and killed during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin in May 2022, leading to widespread outrage.
While Israel claims that Abu Akleh, who was visibly wearing protective press gear, was likely unintentionally shot by an Israeli soldier, her family believes she was deliberately targeted. Witnesses at the scene have also stated that there were no Palestinian fighters firing in the area where she was standing.
The US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) conducted an investigation into the incident, but the report has remained classified. Senator Van Hollen, a Democrat on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, emphasizes that the report holds crucial information and findings about the conduct of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) unit involved in the operation, as well as other IDF units operating in the West Bank.
Despite the USSC team's inability to conduct an independent investigation due to restricted access to key witnesses, Van Hollen underscores the importance of releasing the report publicly to ensure accountability for the shooting death of a US citizen.
The US State Department, responsible for overseeing the USSC, has yet to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera submitted information to the International Criminal Court in December regarding Abu Akleh's killing, with her family supporting such efforts and urging action from the Biden administration.
Israel maintains that its soldiers do not intentionally target journalists and has refused to disclose the identity of the soldier who may have shot Abu Akleh. The declassification of the report could shed light on the circumstances surrounding her tragic death and contribute to achieving justice in this case.