UN finds journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli fire

Gulf Today Report

A spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Friday that the commission has concluded that Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh was killed on May 11 by Israeli forces.

“All the information we collected, including from the Israeli army and the Palestinian attorney general, confirms the fact that the shots that killed Abu Aqleh and wounded her colleague Ali Sammoudi were fired by the Israeli security forces, and not random shots from the Palestinians, as the Israeli authorities initially said,” UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters.

"We did not find any information indicating that Palestinian gunmen carried out any activity near the journalists," Shamdasani said, adding, "It is very worrying that the Israeli authorities have not opened a judicial investigation."

Shireen Abu Aqleh was wearing a flak jacket with the word "Press" written on it, and a protective helmet when she was hit by a bullet under her helmet.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has urged Israel to open a criminal investigation into Abu Akleh's killing and into all other killings by Israeli forces in the West Bank and in the context of law enforcement operations in Gaza.

"Our findings indicate that no warnings were issued and no shooting was taking place at that time and at that location," Shamdasani said.

"At around 06h 30, as four of the journalists turned into the street leading to the camp, wearing bulletproof helmets and flak jackets with 'PRESS' markings, several single, seemingly well-aimed bullets were fired towards them from the direction of the Israeli Security Forces," she said.