Washington, D.C. – Dozens of US lawmakers have signed a letter urging the FBI to investigate the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Congressman Andre Carson said, hours after the Israeli military said there would be no criminal investigation initiate the incident.
Abu Akleh, who held US citizenship, was fatally shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank last week, sparking global outrage and widespread calls for an independent or US-led investigation.
“As we all continue to mourn the loss of this great journalist, a fellow American who was tragically killed in the field, we want answers,” Carson, who directs the letter to Congress, said in an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday.
“And we need to make sure those responses are accurate, transparent and timely.”
The letter, first published by The Intercept earlier this week, calls on the US government to become directly involved in any investigation into the fatal shooting of the Al Jazeera journalist.
“Given the tense situation in the region and the conflicting reports of Ms. Abu Akleh’s death, we are calling on the State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to open an investigation into Ms. Abu Akleh’s death.
“We also call on the US State Department to determine whether US laws protecting Ms. Abu Akleh, a US citizen, have been violated,” it said. “As an American, Ms. Abu Akleh was entitled to the full protections afforded to US citizens living abroad.”
The statement is addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Carson told Al Jazeera that the letter, which is still circulating on Capitol Hill to seek support, already has more than 55 co-signers, calling the number “huge.”
“The State Department called her murder an attack on media freedom. I can only agree with that,” said Carson. “As the world’s leading democracy, we have a responsibility to protect the free press, not just in our own country but around the world.”
Family wants answers
President Joe Biden’s administration has condemned the killing and called for an investigation, but said it would trust Israel to conduct the investigation.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said last week Israel has “the wherewithal and the resources to conduct a thorough, comprehensive investigation,” adding that “those responsible for Shireen’s murder will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” should”.
The State Department on Thursday did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on the Israeli military’s statement.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz earlier in the day, and a release from the Pentagon describing their talks made no mention of Abu Akleh.
When asked by Al Jazeera during a briefing whether the issue had been raised during the meeting, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Austin welcomed Israel’s “declaration of intent” to investigate.
“The government of Israel – it’s not for the Israeli military – I think it’s in their interior ministry, and they’ve stated a clear intention to investigate, and the secretary [Austin] welcomed this investigation,” Kirby said. “And of course we look forward to seeing what the investigation finds.”
Abu Akleh’s family has called on the US government and the international community to step in and ensure an independent investigation after the Israeli military said it was not investigating.
“We had expected this from the Israeli side. So we didn’t want them to get involved in the investigation. We want to hold everyone responsible for these acts accountable,” the family said in a statement to Al Jazeera.
“We specifically call on the United States — as a US citizen — and the international community to conduct a fair and transparent investigation and put an end to the killings.”
US aid to Israel
On May 13, Israeli police attacked Abu Akleh’s funeral procession in Jerusalem, beating pallbearers carrying her coffin with batons in scenes that sparked further anger and calls for accountability.
Palestinian rights advocates have urged Washington to condition or limit US aid to Israel over the assassination of Abu Akleh and other Israeli rights abuses — an idea categorically opposed by the Biden administration.
The Al Jazeera journalist is the second American citizen to be killed by Israeli forces this year. In January, 78-year-old Omar Assad suffered a stress-related heart attack after being arbitrarily arrested, bound, blindfolded and gagged by Israeli forces.
Israel receives $3.8 billion in US military aid annually, and this year Washington added another $1 billion in support to “top up” Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system after the May 2021 Gaza conflict.
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Israel’s B’Tselem, among other human rights groups, have accused Israel of committing apartheid against the Palestinians — claims that the Israeli and US governments have dismissed.
“There are a lot of people calling [for] a deeper scrutiny regarding support for Israel,” Carson said Thursday. “Israel was a strategic partner of the United States. I think when we send money we need to make sure people are held accountable.”
He stressed that the US has a role in ensuring accountability for the assassination of Abu Akleh.
“She deserves justice. Every American killed abroad is entitled to our protection. Every human being killed – American or not – deserves justice, including Palestinians.”