Israel won’t hold legal inquiry into killing of journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh | Israel

Israel will not launch a criminal investigation into the killing of the US-Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, which Palestinian officials and witnesses have blamed on Israeli soldiers.

In an announcement released on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces claimed that as a result of Abu Aqleh was killed in an “active combat situation”, an instantaneous legal investigation would not be launched, although an “operational inquiry” would proceed.

According to a report in the Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli army police branch has accepted the assurances of Israeli troops that they were not conscious she was in a village adjoining to the Jenin refugee camp when she was killed on 11 Might.

The Biden administration and the UN safety council have called for a transparent investigation.

Abu Aqleh was a household identify across the Arab world, identified for documenting the hardship of Palestinian life underneath Israeli rule for Al Jazeera. Her killing received widespread international coverage and prompted criticism from the White Home.

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, promised her household that Washington would demand that her dying be properly investigated.

Abu Aqleh was killed throughout an arrest raid by an Israeli commando unit on Palestinian militants.

According to Haaretz, the head of the Commando Brigade, Col Meni Liberty, identified six events throughout the raid when Israeli troopers opened hearth, allegedly at armed Palestinians who had been near Abu Aqleh and other journalists.

The Israeli navy had previously launched an account that stated it could not unequivocally decide the source of the bullet that killed Abu Aqleh. That account speculated that the bullet might have been fired by both a Palestinian militant or an Israeli soldier utilizing a “telescopic scope” at 200 metres.

Palestinian officers have refused to present the recovered bullet to Israeli authorities to analyse but stated it welcomed international investigations.

The decision by the Israeli army advocate common, Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, not to order an investigation by the military police prison investigation division marks a departure from the majority of recent incidents involving IDF shootings of civilians in the occupied West Financial institution, which have been followed by investigations.

At her funeral on Friday police beat mourners carrying her casket, prompting extra criticism of Israeli authorities.

Last week the UN excessive commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, complained a few lack of Israeli accountability for deaths within the occupied territories.

Commenting on Abu Aqleh’s killing and the next violence at her funeral, Bachelet said: “As I've referred to as for a lot of times earlier than, there must be applicable investigations into the actions of Israeli safety forces.

“Anybody discovered responsible should be held to account with penal and disciplinary sanctions commensurate to the gravity of the violation. This culture of impunity should finish now.”

The Israeli NGO Yesh Din criticised the decision to not investigate, saying that “the army legislation enforcement mechanisms not even bother to give the looks of investigating”.

More than 100 artists, together with Hollywood stars, acclaimed authors and distinguished musicians, have in the meantime signed a joint letter condemning Abu Aqleh’s killing.

Steve Coogan, Kathryn Hahn, Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon and Tilda Swinton were among the signatories to a letter printed by Artists for Palestine UK that referred to as for “full accountability for the perpetrators of this crime and everybody involved in authorising it”.

The Israel Defence Forces launched a statement on Thursday claiming that “dozens of Palestinian gunmen fired recklessly and indiscriminately whereas IDF troopers had been conducting counter-terrorism activities within the Jenin camp” on the day that Abu Aqleh died.

“An alternate of fireplace occurred between Palestinian gunmen and the troopers. Towards the tip of the activity, the journalist Shireen Abu [Aqleh], who was present at the battle zone throughout the trade of fireside, was hit.

“Due to the nature of the lively combat situation, a direct [military criminal] investigation was not launched. A choice concerning the necessity of an … investigation can be determined by the army advocacy, in accordance with the findings of the still-ongoing operational inquiry, as is customary in such cases.”

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The police department choice came a day after Israeli authorities said they've given the go-ahead for flag-waving Jewish nationalists to march via the center of the principle Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalem’s Previous City later this month, in a choice that threatens to re-ignite violence in the holy city.

The office of the general public safety minister, Omer Barlev, said the march would happen on 29 May alongside its “customary route” by way of Damascus Gate, which is an Arab neighbourhood.

The Previous City, located in East Jerusalem, has experienced weeks of violent confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators, and the march threatens to set off new unrest.