Israel is not going to maintain criminal inquiry into killing of journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh | Israel

Israel is not going to launch a legal investigation into the killing of the US-Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, which Palestinian officers and witnesses have blamed on Israeli troopers.

In a statement launched on Thursday, the Israel Protection Forces claimed that because Abu Aqleh was killed in an “active fight situation”, a direct criminal investigation would not be launched, although an “operational inquiry” would continue.

Based on a report in the Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli army police department has accepted the assurances of Israeli troops that they were not aware she was in a village adjoining to the Jenin refugee camp when she was killed on 11 Could.

The Biden administration and the UN security council have called for a transparent investigation.

Abu Aqleh was a household identify throughout the Arab world, known for documenting the hardship of Palestinian life beneath Israeli rule for Al Jazeera. Her killing acquired widespread worldwide coverage and prompted criticism from the White House.

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, promised her household that Washington would demand that her death be properly investigated.

Abu Aqleh was killed throughout an arrest raid by an Israeli commando unit on Palestinian militants.

In keeping with Haaretz, the head of the Commando Brigade, Col Meni Liberty, identified six events throughout the raid when Israeli soldiers opened hearth, allegedly at armed Palestinians who have been close to Abu Aqleh and other journalists.

The Israeli military had previously released an account that stated it couldn't unequivocally decide the source of the bullet that killed Abu Aqleh. That account speculated that the bullet could have been fired by both a Palestinian militant or an Israeli soldier using a “telescopic scope” at 200 metres.

Palestinian officials have refused to offer the recovered bullet to Israeli authorities to analyse but said it welcomed worldwide investigations.

The decision by the Israeli military advocate general, Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, to not order an investigation by the military police felony investigation division marks a departure from nearly all of latest incidents involving IDF shootings of civilians in the occupied West Bank, which have been adopted by investigations.

At her funeral on Friday police beat mourners carrying her casket, prompting extra criticism of Israeli authorities.

Last week the UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, complained a few lack of Israeli accountability for deaths in the occupied territories.

Commenting on Abu Aqleh’s killing and the following violence at her funeral, Bachelet said: “As I've referred to as for many times earlier than, there should be appropriate investigations into the actions of Israeli safety forces.

“Anyone found responsible needs to be held to account with penal and disciplinary sanctions commensurate to the gravity of the violation. This tradition of impunity must end now.”

The Israeli NGO Yesh Din criticised the choice not to investigate, saying that “the army law enforcement mechanisms now not even hassle to offer the appearance of investigating”.

More than 100 artists, together with Hollywood stars, acclaimed authors and distinguished musicians, have in the meantime signed a joint letter condemning Abu Aqleh’s killing.

Steve Coogan, Kathryn Hahn, Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon and Tilda Swinton were among the many signatories to a letter printed by Artists for Palestine UK that referred to as for “full accountability for the perpetrators of this crime and everyone involved in authorising it”.

The Israel Defence Forces launched an announcement on Thursday claiming that “dozens of Palestinian gunmen fired recklessly and indiscriminately whereas IDF soldiers were conducting counter-terrorism actions within the Jenin camp” on the day that Abu Aqleh died.

“An alternate of fire occurred between Palestinian gunmen and the troopers. Towards the tip of the activity, the journalist Shireen Abu [Aqleh], who was current on the battle zone during the alternate of fireside, was hit.

“Due to the nature of the energetic combat scenario, an instantaneous [military criminal] investigation was not launched. A decision concerning the need of an … investigation can be decided by the military advocacy, in accordance with the findings of the still-ongoing operational inquiry, as is customary in such cases.”

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The police department resolution got here a day after Israeli authorities stated they've given the go-ahead for flag-waving Jewish nationalists to march by means of the center of the primary Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalem’s Previous City later this month, in a choice that threatens to re-ignite violence within the holy metropolis.

The office of the public security minister, Omer Barlev, mentioned the march would take place on 29 May along its “customary route” through Damascus Gate, which is an Arab neighbourhood.

The Old City, positioned in East Jerusalem, has experienced weeks of violent confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators, and the march threatens to trigger new unrest.