US says initial probe into US citizen's killing does not exonerate Israel

State Department says it is ‘deeply concerned’ by killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that an initial probe into the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh does not exonerate Israel.

Abu Akleh, a reporter for Al Jazeera, was shot dead in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on May 11 while covering an Israeli military raid.

The Israeli military initially said that Abu Akleh was likely killed by Palestinian gunfire, but later said that it was possible that she was killed by Israeli fire.

The US State Department said in a statement on Friday that it was “deeply concerned” by Abu Akleh’s killing and that the initial probe “did not provide sufficient information to determine the origin of the bullet that killed Ms. Abu Akleh.”

The statement said that the US “will continue to press for a full and transparent investigation into Ms. Abu Akleh’s death and will continue to advocate for accountability for those responsible.”

Abu Akleh’s killing has been widely condemned by international human rights groups and journalists’ organizations.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement that Abu Akleh’s killing was “a clear violation of international law” and called on the US to “demand that Israel conduct a full and transparent investigation into her death.”

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a statement that Abu Akleh’s killing was “a tragedy for journalism” and called on the UN to “establish an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate her death.”

Abu Akleh’s killing has also been condemned by the Palestinian Authority and the Jordanian government.

The Palestinian Authority has called for an international investigation into Abu Akleh’s death and has said that it will not cooperate with any Israeli investigation.

The Jordanian government has condemned Abu Akleh’s killing as a “heinous crime” and has called on the international community to “hold Israel accountable for its crimes.”