Israel will not cooperate with the investigation into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed while covering a military raid on the West Bank city of Jenin in May.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a statement Monday that Israel has published its own probe and will not cooperate with the proceedings.
He stressed that Israel made it clear to the US representatives that it stands behind Israeli soldiers and we will not cooperate with any external investigation.
Gantz denounced the inquiry as “interference in Israel’s internal affairs.”
"The decision of the US Department of Justice to investigate the unfortunate death of Shireen Abu Akleh is a grave mistake," said Gantz.
The 51-year-old Palestinian-US reporter, was wearing a press vest and helmet and standing when she was shot in the head by a sniper during an Israeli raid in the West Bank.
Palestinian authorities accused Israel of killing Abu Akleh, however Israeli probe into the matter claimed that she was killed by mistake.
The Abu Akleh family recently called the US announcement “an important step toward accountability and gets our family closer to justice for Shireen.”
