FBIs Progress on Israeli Killing of Journalist Remains Troubling: CPJ

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement calling for a public update on the status of the FBI investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The CPJ, in an open letter to the Department of Justice and FBI chief Kash Patel, expressed concern over the lack of progress in the case.

The CPJ stated that there has been no formal interviews with witnesses, despite their willingness to cooperate, and no signs of FBI activity gathering evidence in Israel or Palestine. Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces on May 11, 2022, while covering Israeli army raids in Jenin, West Bank. The investigation’s status remains unchanged.

The CPJ has requested a public update on the case, a commitment to a timeline for the investigation, and the release of its findings. They also emphasized the need for an impartial and independent investigation, free from political considerations.

Abu Akleh’s family expressed frustration with the lack of progress in the investigation, stating that justice remains elusive despite the passage of time. The CPJ reported that Israel has killed 258 journalists and media workers since Abu Akleh’s death, with many accusing the country of targeting journalists without consequence.

The CPJ’s regional director, Sara Qudah, stated that the lack of accountability in such cases emboldens those who seek to silence the truth through violence. The organization is calling for real accountability and an independent investigation into Abu Akleh’s killing.

Source: Al Jazeera