US Officials Divided on Israel's Intentional Killing of Palestinian Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

Palestinian journalists continue to face lethal targeting amid the ongoing conflict, with Mohammed Al-Manirawi and his family recently killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, exemplifying the extreme dangers journalists endure in the region. The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American journalist shot in the West Bank in 2022 while clearly marked as press, has sparked significant controversy. Retired US Army colonel Steve Gabavics, involved in the investigation, concluded the shooting was intentional, contradicting the Biden administration's official stance that it was accidental and a tragic circumstance. Internal US government divisions reveal some officials believed the Israeli soldier was aware of shooting a journalist, while others supported the more cautious public narrative. Gabavics criticized his superiors for accepting Israeli explanations over investigative findings, leading to frustration over the US report's failure to label the killing deliberate. This case highlights broader concerns about accountability and the safety of journalists reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, amid accusations of US favoritism toward Israel.