Israel admits 'high probability' soldier mistakenly shot Al Jazeera journalist

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The investigation carried out by the Israeli Army concludes that

that ended the life of the Palestinian-American journalist,

, in a military incursion in the north of the West Bank four years ago. months, but admits the

.

Israel's report, presented on Monday, does not yet rule out that the Al Jazeera journalist was shot by Palestinian militiamen in the armed clash that took place during the raid on the Jenin refugee camp The

(PNA) denounces that

.

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• Writing: SAL EMERGUIJerusalem

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"It is possible that she was shot by mistake by an Israeli soldier who, from his closed armored vehicle, did not identify her as a journalist. The soldier was under fire from terrorists and responded without identifying himself as a journalist in a situation that can be defined as a front of combat," says an Israeli officer before adding: "In the detailed and thorough investigation, all the orders to open fire in this operation were verified and we did not see any irregularities. We regret the tragic death of Abu Akleh and offer our condolences."

Faced with the complaint that the veteran reporter was wearing a vest that clearly identified her as "press" while she was covering the operation on May 11, the Army's high command replied that from the position of the Duvdevan unit's staff, she could only see a small area at the site of the exchange of fire.

"The soldier did not intentionally target the Al Jazeera or other journalist and he regrets that he misidentified in an urban context where terrorists operate among civilians," it added.

"The soldiers came under indiscriminate fire from the terrorists, endangering their lives. The shots were fired with the

at them and in no case with the intention of harming civilians or journalists. Two days later, one of our soldiers soldier died in a similar action in that area".

After receiving the conclusions of the investigation,

into this case as it found no evidence or suspicion of a criminal offense according to military sources that reiterate the inadvertent shooting.

"The Armed Forces operate in immensely complex areas every night, while going to great lengths to avoid harming non-combatants (civilians) and working to enable coverage and freedom of the press," Army Chief Aviv Kochavi said. who has mourned the death of Abu Akleh.

The Israeli Army report is similar to the one released by the United States two months ago after jointly analyzing the lethal bullet delivered by the PNA in the laboratory.

The US experts then stated that they could not reach a clear conclusion because "the bullet was badly damaged", but added that

for his death, although without evidence that it was intentional.

Palestinian reaction

Abu Akleh's family has accused Israel of not taking responsibility and demands the intervention of the International Criminal Court.

According to the PNA, the Israeli report is a

. "

"All the evidence, facts and investigations showed that Israel was the one who killed Shireen and must take responsibility for her crime," said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Abu Mazen, who refused to cooperate in a joint investigation with Israel as stated. as this one had requested.

Following the death of the reporter, who was well known and loved in Palestinian homes, the Palestinian leadership denounced that she was "murdered in cold blood by Israeli soldiers."

The investigation by Palestinian Attorney General Akram al-Jatib blamed the military in May, denouncing that her "attacks against Shireen Abu Akleh and other journalists who were with her were deliberate."

The Palestinians alleged that, on the one hand, the exchange of fire did not take place at that place and time since there was no presence of armed Palestinians as Israel points out in its report and, on the other hand, the testimony on the ground of the Palestinian journalist Ali Samudi who was injured.

Qatar, owner of the television network in which Abu Akleh worked since 1997, and

.

This version was also corroborated by investigations by various international media.

Abu Akleh became a symbol in the Palestinian and Arab street and his death in a very delicate matter in the sensitive relations between the US, which demanded from the outset a "thorough" investigation, Israel and the PNA.

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