Israel won’t maintain prison inquiry into killing of journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh | Israel

Israel won't launch a felony investigation into the killing of the US-Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, which Palestinian officials and witnesses have blamed on Israeli troopers.

In a statement launched on Thursday, the Israel Protection Forces claimed that as a result of Abu Aqleh was killed in an “active combat situation”, an immediate felony investigation would not be launched, though an “operational inquiry” would proceed.

Based on a report within the Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli navy police branch has accepted the assurances of Israeli troops that they weren't aware she was in a village adjoining to the Jenin refugee camp when she was killed on 11 May.

The Biden administration and the UN safety council have referred to as for a clear investigation.

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

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, promised her family that Washington would demand that her dying be correctly investigated.

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

According to Haaretz, the pinnacle of the Commando Brigade, Col Meni Liberty, identified six occasions throughout the raid when Israeli troopers opened fireplace, allegedly at armed Palestinians who have been close to Abu Aqleh and other journalists.

The Israeli military had beforehand launched an account that said it could not unequivocally decide the source of the bullet that killed Abu Aqleh. That account speculated that the bullet may have been fired by either a Palestinian militant or an Israeli soldier utilizing a “telescopic scope” at 200 metres.

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

The decision by the Israeli military advocate general, Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, to not order an investigation by the navy police legal investigation division marks a departure from the vast majority of current incidents involving IDF shootings of civilians within the occupied West Bank, which have been followed by investigations.

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

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

Commenting on Abu Aqleh’s killing and the next violence at her funeral, Bachelet stated: “As I have known as for many instances before, there should be appropriate investigations into the actions of Israeli safety forces.

“Anyone discovered accountable ought to be held to account with penal and disciplinary sanctions commensurate to the gravity of the violation. This culture of impunity should end now.”

The Israeli NGO Yesh Din criticised the decision not to investigate, saying that “the military regulation enforcement mechanisms not even bother to give the appearance of investigating”.

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

Steve Coogan, Kathryn Hahn, Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon and Tilda Swinton were among the signatories to a letter published 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 released a statement on Thursday claiming that “dozens of Palestinian gunmen fired recklessly and indiscriminately while IDF troopers had been conducting counter-terrorism actions in the Jenin camp” on the day that Abu Aqleh died.

“An change of fireplace occurred between Palestinian gunmen and the troopers. Toward the tip of the activity, the journalist Shireen Abu [Aqleh], who was current on the battle zone throughout the trade of fire, was hit.

“Due to the nature of the active combat situation, a direct [military criminal] investigation was not launched. A call regarding the need of an … investigation can be decided by the navy advocacy, in accordance with the findings of the still-ongoing operational inquiry, as is customary in such circumstances.”

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The police department resolution came a day after Israeli authorities mentioned they have given the go-ahead for flag-waving Jewish nationalists to march through the heart of the main Palestinian thoroughfare in Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis later this month, in a decision that threatens to re-ignite violence within the holy city.

The office of the general public safety minister, Omer Barlev, stated the march would take place on 29 Could along its “customary route” via Damascus Gate, which is an Arab neighbourhood.

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