Palestine: Israeli troops 'deliberately' killed Al Jazeera reporter

The Palestinian Authority's attorney general has said that its investigation proves an Israeli soldier shot Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in a targeted killing in Jenin on May 11.

Announcing the results of his probe at a news conference in the occupied  West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday, Palestinian Attorney General Akram al Khateeb said he had determined there were no armed Palestinians in the immediate area where Abu Akleh was located.

“The only shooting was by the occupation forces, with the aim of killing,” he said.

Abu Akleh was in a group of journalists wearing helmets and protective vests marked “press.” He said the army saw the journalists and knew they were journalists.

He accused Israel of shooting her “directly and deliberately” as she tried to escape. He also repeated the Palestinian position that the bullet will not be handed over to the Israelis for study. He said they decided not even to show images of the bullet “to deprive them of a new lie.”

Al Khateeb said his investigation was based on interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical report.

The bullet that killed Abu Akleh is a 5.56 mm round with a steel component used by NATO forces, he said.

There was no immediate response from Israel.

READ MORE: Independent probe points to Israeli bullet in Shireen Abu Akleh's killing

Poor record of investigating

The findings echoed the results of a preliminary investigation announced nearly two weeks ago and were widely expected. Israel is likely to reject the report as biased and unfounded.

Abu Akleh, a veteran Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeera’s Arabic service, was shot in the head on May 11 during an Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Witnesses and Palestinian officials have said she was hit by Israeli fire. Israel says she was shot during a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters. Palestinian witnesses say there were no clashes anywhere near her. 

Palestine has refused to hand over the bullet to Israel or cooperate with it in any way, saying Israel cannot be trusted to investigate its own conduct. 

Rights groups say Israel has a poor record of investigating when security forces shoot Palestinians, with cases often languishing for months or years before being quietly closed.

READ MORE: How Shireen Abu Akleh inspired a generation of female reporters