Over 50 US lawmakers demand FBI probe into killing of Shireen Abu Akleh

Washington (QNN)- More than 50 US lawmakers have signed a letter demanding the FBI and State Department to investigate the killing of Al Jazeera veteran reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, after Israel’s military said it would not investigate the case.

Spearheaded by Democratic Congressmen Andre Carson and Luis Correa, the letter says the US should be directly involved in an investigation of the killing of the journalist, who was an American citizen.

“As Members of Congress, we are deeply concerned by the death of Ms. Abu Akleh. Journalists worldwide must be protected at all costs,” said the letter which was first shared by The Intercept earlier this week.

“We request the State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launch an investigation into Ms. Abu Akleh’s death.”

“We also request the US Department of State determines whether any US laws protecting Ms. Abu Akleh, an American citizen, were violated.”

As of Friday, the letter has obtained a total of 57 signatories, according to a tally shared with Middle East Eye (MEE) by Carson’s office, ranging from progressive Democrats to more moderate, and even pro-Israel, lawmakers in the party.

While Carson and other cosigners including Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Marie Newman, and Betty McCollum have been critical of unconditional support to ‘Israel’, others who signed the letter have been staunch supporters of the longtime US ally.

“As an American, Ms. Abu Akleh was entitled to the full protections afforded to U.S. citizens living abroad,” the letter closes.

“We, the undersigned Members of Congress, urge you to uphold the values that our nation was founded on, including human rights, equality for all, and freedom of speech. We have a duty to protect Americans reporting abroad. We look forward to your timely response.”

According to the Qatar-based news channel, Al Jazeera, and the Palestinian Health Ministry, Shireen Abu Akleh was shot in the face by a single bullet fired by Israeli forces while she was covering an Israeli military raid into the Jenin refugee camp despite wearing a press vest, earlier on May 11. She was rushed to Ibn Sina hospital in critical condition and was announced dead soon afterwards.

Several US lawmakers have already condemned Israel’s killing of Abu Akleh and called for a probe into the incident.

“Shocking to learn that Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, a 51-year old U.S. citizen, was shot in the face and killed while reporting in the occupied West Bank,” Congresswoman Betty McCollum wrote on Twitter. “This must be condemned and investigated, and there must be accountability.”

Congressman Mark Pocan also called Israel’s killing of Abu Akleh “shameful”.

“She was killed by the Israeli military, after making her presence as a journalist clearly known. We provide Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid annually with no restrictions. What will it take for accountability for these human rights violations?” tweeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

“When will the world and those who stand by Apartheid Israel that continues to murder, torture and commit war crimes finally say: “Enough”? Shireen Abu Akleh was murdered by a government that receives unconditional funding by our country with zero accountability,” wrote Rashida Tlaib on Twitter.

On the House floor, last week, Tlaib also held a moment of silence to honor Abu Akleh. “People woke up to the killing Shireen Abu Akleh and I would like to do a moment of silence [over this] this shocking news, a journalist of over twenty years, a Palestinian-American killed,” said Tlaib while visibly holding back tears.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, also tweeted, “The killing of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is an horrific tragedy. A thorough, objective investigation is needed now.”

The Israeli forces killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh with US funding, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also said in an early Friday morning Instagram video.

“I think it’s really important for us to have eyes on what happened with Shireen Abu Aklen in Palestine, she was killed by Israeli forces — A venerated journalist, a US citizen,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “We can’t allow this stuff to be happening with our resources.”

“Our tax dollars are a part of this…we can’t even get healthcare in the US, and we’re funding this,” she continued.

Israel receives $3.8bn in US military aid annually, the highest of any country, and also received an extra $1bn this year to “replenish” its Iron Dome missile defence system after the May 2021 war on Gaza.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said last week: “The Israelis have the wherewithal and the capabilities to conduct a thorough, comprehensive investigation. “It is important to us that her legacy be honoured, be protected, with accountability for those who senselessly took her life.”

The Israeli forces’ military police criminal investigation division announced on Thursday that it did not plan to investigate the killing after concluding there was no suspicion of a criminal act.