Senator Urges Release of New U.S. Report on Killing of Abu Akleh

Date: 03 May 2023 - 23:10

News ID: ۱۱۴۶۲۲

WASHINGTON (Al Jazeera) – A Maryland senator has called on the administration of President Joe Biden to give legislators access to a report from the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) about the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Democrat Chris Van Hollen said that he sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to make the assessment “available immediately for Congressional review”.
“I ask that you immediately authorize the release of the full and unedited USSC Report under appropriate classification to me and other interested Members of Congress,” the senator wrote to Blinken.
The Biden administration has not acknowledged the existence of the report, and it is not clear when the report was submitted. But Van Hollen said his office had been in contact with individuals at the State Department over the matter for the past 12 days.
The USSC oversees and encourages security coordination between Zionist and Palestinian officials. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
In his letter to Blinken, dated May 1, Van Hollen raised concerns that the government may alter the report.
“Most recently, we were informed that, before congressional release of the USSC Report is authorized, the Administration plans to make unspecified changes to its contents,” the letter reads.
“While the Administration has characterized its proposed changes as ‘technical,’ any actions to alter the USSC’s Summation Report in any way would violate the integrity of this process.”
Axios first reported on Van Hollen’s letter earlier on Tuesday before it was publicly released.
Abu Akleh, a U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by Zionist troops during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on May 11, 2022. Her killing spurred worldwide condemnation and demands for justice.
U.S. officials have called for accountability in the case, but critics say the U.S. has not done enough to pressure its Zionist allies to ensure justice for the slain journalist.
Washington has rejected efforts to seek accountability for the killing of Abu Akleh at the International Criminal Court (ICC).