The United States said that Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely killed by gunfire from Israeli positions but that there was no reason to believe her death was intentional. The State Department also said the United States could not make a “definitive conclusion” on the origin of the bullet that killed her on May 11, which was handed over by the Palestinian Authority.
“Ballistic experts determined the bullet was badly damaged, which prevented a clear conclusion”, State Department spokesman Ned Price said after what he called “extremely detailed forensic analysis” with outside examiners. Abu Akleh’s death provoked a furore, with the Palestinian Authority alleging a war crime, prompting angry denials by Israel, a close US ally which President Joe Biden is visiting in two weeks. — AFP
