24 Senators urge Biden to ensure US direct involvement in probe of Abu Akleh’s shooting death

Washington (QNN)- U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and twenty-three of his Senate colleagues urged on Thursday President Joe Biden to ensure the “direct involvement” of the US in the investigation of the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

In their letter to the President – who is planning to visit ‘Israel’ and the West Bank in mid-July, the lawmakers stressed the importance of an independent, thorough, and transparent investigation and underscored the need for U.S. involvement to ensure that all parties have confidence in the findings.

The Senators initiated their letter by noting that “it has now been over a month since American citizen and journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot to death while reporting on an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin. Since that time, there has been no significant progress toward the establishment of an independent, thorough, and transparent investigation into her killing.”

They added, “We believe that, as a leader in the effort to protect the freedom of the press and the safety of journalists, and given the fact that Ms. Abu Akleh was an American citizen, the U.S. government has an obligation to ensure that a comprehensive, impartial, and open investigation into her shooting death is conducted – one in which all parties can have full confidence in the ultimate findings,” wrote the Senators.

“It is clear that neither of the parties on the ground trust the other to conduct a credible and independent investigation. Therefore, at this point, we believe the only way to achieve that goal is for the United States to be directly involved in investigating Ms. Abu Akleh’s death.”

The Senators also referred to the letter sent last month by 57 members of the House of Representatives requesting that the State Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launch an independent investigation under U.S auspices to determine the truth.

“We join in that request, which has been made even more urgent by the new information that has emerged in recent weeks,” they continue.

The Senators also mentioned that a number of “respected independent news organizations have reached a different conclusion” which disputing an early Israeli claim referencing the possibility that it was killed by a Palestinian fire.

“These organizations, including The Washington Post, CNN and the Associated Press, reviewed video feed, photos and geospatial images of the scene; interviewed individuals present; and consulted with outside experts. They have concluded that there was no Palestinian gunfire emanating from the location of the shooting at the time of Ms. Abu Akleh’s killing,” the Senators worte.

“In order to protect freedom of the press, a thorough and transparent investigation under U.S. auspices must be conducted to get to the truth and provide accountability for the killing of this American citizen and journalist,” the letter concluded.

In addition to Senator Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin, Sherrod Brown, Tom Carper, Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, Martin Heinrich, Tim Kaine and others.