Price said the conclusion of probable responsibility for the killing was made “by summarizing” the IDF and Palestinian Authority investigations – studies to which the US security coordinator has been given “full access” for the past few weeks.
The security coordinator, Price said, “found no reason to believe this was intentional, but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against Palestinian Islamic Jihad factions on May 11, 2022, in Jenin.” which followed a series of terrorist attacks in Israel”.
He noted that the inspection of the bullet was “extremely detailed” and that “independent third-party experts, as part of a process overseen by the United States Security Coordinator (USSC),” were unable to reach a definitive conclusion on its origin.
“Ballistics experts determined that the bullet was severely damaged, which prevented a clear conclusion,” Price said.
“The United States appreciates and continues to encourage cooperation between Israel and the PA in this important case. We will continue to engage with Israel and the PA on next steps and demand accountability,” he said. “Again, we extend our deepest condolences to the family of Abu Akle.
Palestinian officials handed over the bullet to US authorities on Saturday. Palestinian Authority Justice Minister Mohammad al-Shalaldeh told Al Jazeera on Sunday evening that US officials had returned the bullet.
A US official previously told CNN that Washington had been pressuring the Palestinians to give them access to the bullet that killed Abu Akleh for weeks.
“We have made it clear to Israel and the PA that the United States expects thorough, transparent and impartial investigations into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Abu Akleh’s killing and responsibility,” a State Department spokesman said when asked about the matter.
Last month, 24 US senators called for direct US involvement in the investigation into Abu Akle’s murder.
“It is clear that neither party on the ground trusts the other to conduct a credible and independent investigation,” they wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden, who plans to visit Israel and the West Bank later this month. “Therefore, at this stage, we believe that the only way to achieve this goal is for the United States to be directly involved in the investigation into Ms. Abu Akle’s death.”
This story is current and will be updated.
CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Tamara Kiblawi, Hadas Gold, Karim Kader and Abir Salman contributed to this report.
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