A group of Senate Democrats is pushing for language in legislation funding the State Department that would require the administration to determine whether US assistance to Israel should be blocked if the administration finds that Israeli forces committed human rights violations or war crimes related to the murder of an Al. Jazeera journalist.
The language would require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress detailing the administration’s efforts to support an independent investigation into the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, the veteran Al Jazeera journalist and US citizen shot to death in May while reporting on a security raid carried out by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
The Democratic-backed language says any report must include a determination “whether section 620M of the [Foreign Assistance Act] applies to such a case.”
Section 620M states that US assistance. it must be blocked from foreign security forces if there is “credible information that such a unit has committed a serious human rights violation or war crime.”
Legislative text was introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, as well as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen ( DN.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
“The United States must ensure an independent, credible and transparent investigation into the shooting death of American citizen and journalist Shireen Abu Akleh,” the group said in a statement.
“The language of our report requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the steps taken to support such investigation and provide further details on the findings. We will continue to work to get the full truth about this tragedy, ensure accountability, and make clear our unwavering support for press freedom and the safety of journalists around the world.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently met with Abu Akleh’s family in Washington, but the family and their supporters have been extremely critical of President Biden and his administration. They say he has not done enough to push for an independent investigation and accountability for the journalist’s death.
“For too long, the United States has allowed Israel to kill with impunity by providing weapons, immunity, and diplomatic cover,” family members of Abu Akleh said in a recent statement, according to the Times of Israel.
“If we allow Shireen’s murder to be swept under the rug, we send the message that the lives of American citizens abroad don’t matter, that the lives of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation don’t matter, and that The bravest journalists in the world, who cover the human impact of armed conflict and violence, are expendable.”
An analysis by the US Security Coordinator of the region of Israel-Palestinian Authority investigations concluded that “the firing of [Israel Defence Forces] positions was probably responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh,” but said the recovered bullet was too damaged to make a definitive conclusion.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement on July 4 that the US Security Coordinator found no reason that Abu Akleh’s death was intentional but “rather the result of tragic circumstances.” ” during an Israeli military operation.
Various media investigations said Israeli forces likely fired on Abu Akleh, and witnesses at the scene said there was no active conflict with Palestinian militants.