WEST BANK (Al Jazeera) –
Palestinians have announced the results of an investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying that it shows Zionist troops deliberately shot and killed the veteran reporter.
The findings echoed the results of a preliminary investigation announced nearly two weeks ago and were widely expected amid global outrage over the killing of Abu Akleh.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian Attorney General Akram al-Khatib said, “It was clear that one of the [Zionist] occupation forces … had fired a bullet that hit journalist Shireen Abu Akleh directly in her head” while she was attempting to escape.
Abu Akleh, 51, was hit with an armor-piercing bullet, the attorney general said, while she was wearing a helmet and a vest that was clearly marked with the word “PRESS”.
She was shot in the head by Zionist troops on May 11, while she was standing with a group of journalists near the entrance of Jenin refugee camp, reporting on a raid by the occupying regime on the camp.
Her tragic death sent shock waves across the region, drawing global condemnation. The United Nations and the European Union, among others, called for a full investigation into what has been described as a deliberate murder “in cold blood.”
The bullet that killed Abu Akleh is a 5.56 mm round with a steel component used by NATO forces, al-Khatib said, adding, “The only source of firing was by the occupation forces with the aim to kill.”
While the occupying regime claims that Abu Akleh was killed as she was caught in the crossfire, the attorney general said the investigation showed that there were no Palestinian fighters near the scene of the shooting.
Al-Khatib also said an autopsy and forensic examination conducted in Nablus after Abu Akleh’s death showed she was shot from the back, indicating that she was trying to flee as Zionist troops continued to fire toward the group of journalists near the entrance of the Jenin refugee camp.
On Tuesday, an investigative report by CNN also revealed that Abu Akleh was intentionally targeted by Israeli fire. The report is based on 11 videos of the incident at the Jenin refugee camp taken earlier this month, forensic findings, sound analysis of the gunshots and the testimonies by at least 80 eyewitnesses.