In the case of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority handed over the bullet to forensic experts from the United States.

Palestinian prosecutor Akram Al-Chatib said on Saturday evening that the ball should be examined by the United States and then returned to the Palestinian Authority.

The authority had been assured that no changes would be made to the ball.

Palestinian journalist Abu Akleh was shot dead on May 11 while covering an Israeli operation on the outskirts of the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin in the West Bank, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups.

Investigations by the Palestinian Authority and the UN, as well as research by journalists, revealed that she was killed by a shot by the Israeli military.

Israel initially blamed militant Palestinians, but later backtracked.

The origin of the shot could not be determined with certainty, it said.

The Palestinian Authority had refused to hand over the ball to Israel from the start.

The experienced journalist from the broadcaster Al-Jazeera, who also had US citizenship, wore a bulletproof vest with the inscription "Press" and a protective helmet.

Another journalist was shot during the operation.