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ISRAEL IS TO conduct a ballistics test on the bullet that killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, the Israeli army said today, a day after the Palestinian Authority (PA) handed the bullet to US experts.
Army spokesman Ran Kochav’s comment on army radio came after the PA gave the green light for the Americans, but not the Israelis, to examine the bullet that killed Abu Akleh during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.
A Palestinian official, who requested anonymity, told AFP the Israeli comment raised questions about whether the PA could “trust the Americans”.
Speaking to army radio, Kochav said: “The test won’t be American, the test will be an Israeli test with an American presence.
“We are waiting for the results, if we killed her, we’ll take responsibility for it, and will be sorry for it. We are also sorry when people that are not involved are killed by Palestinian gunmen,” he also said.
Israel’s army was not immediately available to provide further explanation of Kochav’s remarks, including whether an Israeli ballistics test was already underway.
Palestinian sources in Ramallah have said they expected the test to be conducted at the US embassy in Jerusalem.
Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American, was wearing a vest marked “Press” and a helmet, was covering an Israeli army operation in Jenin camp in the northern West Bank on May 11 when she was killed.
The official Palestinian investigation found that the Qatar-based television channel’s star reporter was killed after being hit by a bullet just below her helmet.
It found that Abu Akleh was killed with a 5.56 millimetre armour-piercing round fired from a Ruger Mini-14 rifle.
Investigations by the United Nations, as well as several journalistic probes, have found that the shot that killed Abu Akleh was fired by Israeli forces.
Despite those findings, Israel has maintained that she may have been hit by stray Palestinian gunfire.
The army has also said “that Ms. Abu Akleh was not intentionally shot by an IDF soldier”.
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They might examine it but there won’t be anything done about it. This is Israel we’re talking about & they can do whatever the hell they like & get away with it. Before anyone has a go at me, I don’t support violence on any side. However, things have been very one sided for too long with a blind eye being turned to the actions of Israel
“The army has also said “that Ms. Abu Akleh was not intentionally shot by an IDF soldier”. They’re all unintentional when you fire indiscriminately.
@Vonvonic: I’m also not convinced it wasn’t intentional.
@Tricia G ☘️: sniper practice for this mob..but a subdued media have given Israel a pass so this poor journalist won’t be the last
I’m sure the Israeli “test” will be completely impartial and not at all a front for excusing themselves of a crime they clearly committed.
Might as well get the Cookie Monster to conduct an investigation into who emptied the cookie jar while they’re at it.
Oh thank god the Israeli paymasters are going to investigate with the perpetrators of the crime. Those kind of investigations always lead to fair and transparent resolutions. Maybe they could get some advice from the British investigating Bloody Sunday murders.
@Philip Holohan:
Kinda pointless
Their behavior at her funeral was unbelievable.
If all crimes were ‘investigated’ by the accused conviction rates would plummet to zero. The Israeli occupation forces have been caught lying numerous times in the past, including the massacre of hundreds of women and children in Qana Lebanon.
And then blame the Palestinians
Lets here Mr Shatter defend this one can’t effing wait..
Israeli snipers have a history of deliberately targeting Palestinian civilians that’s what they are trained to do.
Strange lack of the usual Israeli apologists.
Disgusting Racist Apartheid State having a laugh..there will be zero justice for this brave lady..just another smelly cover up..Boycott the hell of this so called democratic state..it is not fit for purpose ..very angry …
Please no criticism of Israel or you’re be labelled as a anti Semitic
Did u ever here such sxite..
When u go on patrol all mags are issued and have to be accounted for on return ..even more so witt a sniper
have your say