(FiveNation.com)- The Palestinian Authority has refused to cooperate with Israel in investigating the shooting of an Al Jazeera journalist.
Both nations have resisted investigating if IDF troops shot Shireen Abu Akleh.
Abu Akleh was reporting on an Israeli operation in Jenin when she was shot in the head. While her colleagues allege IDF troops shot the journalist, the military says it is questionable and will investigate.
Hussein al Sheikh said on Twitter that Israel had requested a joint investigation and to be handed the bullet that assassinated Shireen. We refused and affirmed that our investigation would be completed independently. We will inform her family, USA, Qatar, and all official authorities and the public of the results with high transparency.
He said all evidence and witnesses support her assassination being at the hands of Israeli special troops.
“Anyone who believes the IDF killed the journalist is spreading propaganda, not facts,” Israel Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel told Army Radio. “We’re investigating directly and honestly as promised.”
The Palestinian Authority and Israel were in contact to analyze Abu Akleh’s bullet. However, an initial autopsy cannot pinpoint the round’s origin, say forensic experts.
“It’s unclear if Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli or Palestinian fire,” said Dr. Rayyan al Ali, head of the Palestinian Forensic Medicine Institute.
The director said Abu Akleh died from the wound, not blood loss. Israeli military and Palestinian fighters both employ 5.56×45 mm NATO rounds.
On Thursday, a burial service for Abu Akleh was held in the courtyard of the Palestinian Authority’s presidential offices. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave the journalist the Star of Jerusalem, his highest decoration.
International anger followed the incident. The US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, acknowledged Abu Akleh’s citizenship and ordered a “thorough investigation into her murder.”
Of course, the Jew-hating Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) tweeted, “Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by a regime with zero accountability.”
Tlaib afterward observed a moment of silence for Abu Akleh.
Abu Akleh’s funeral is set on Friday in Jerusalem.
