Journo killing: calls for probe

Jenin – Calls mounted yesterday for an independent investigation into the killing of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead as she covered an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank.

The Qatar-based TV channel charged that Israeli forces deliberately and “in cold blood” shot Abu Akleh, 51, a Palestinian-American and a Christian, in the head during the unrest in the Jenin refugee camp.

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said it was “likely armed Palestinians – who were indiscriminately firing at the time – were responsible for the unfortunate death of the journalist”.

Another Al Jazeera journalist, producer Ali al-Samudi, was wounded in the incident in which both wore helmets and vests marked “Press”.

He later said no Palestinian fighters were nearby, stressing that otherwise “we would not have gone into the area”.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz later said “the preliminary investigation conducted by the (army) in the last several hours indicate that no gunfire was directed at the journalist, however, the investigation is ongoing”.

Army chief Aviv Kohavi said, that “at this stage, it is not possible to determine the source of the gunfire which hit her”. –