A group of Senate Democrats are pushing for legislation funding the State Department to require the administration to consider whether US aid to Israel should be withheld if the administration finds Israeli forces have committed human rights abuses. man 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, a veteran Al Jazeera journalist and U.S. citizen shot dead in May while he was reported on a security raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
The language backed by Democrats says any report should include a determination on “whether Section 620M of the [Foreign Assistance Act] applies to this case.
Section 620M states that U.S. assistance must be withheld for foreign security forces if there is “credible information that such a unit has committed a gross human rights violation or a war crime.”
The legislative text was introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the chairman of the appropriations committee, along with Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) 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 wording of our report requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the steps taken to support such an investigation and provide further details of the findings. We will continue to work to get to 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 hasn’t 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 gloss over Shireen’s murder, 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 world’s bravest journalists, those who cover the human impact of armed conflict and violence, are enduring.
An analysis by the United States Security Coordinator for the Israeli-Palestinian Investigations Area concluded “that shots fired from [Israel Defence Forces] positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh,” but said the recovered bullet was too damaged to reach a definitive conclusion.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a July 4 statement that the US security coordinator found no reason why Abu Akleh’s death was intentional but “rather the result of tragic circumstances” during an Israeli military operation.
Multiple media inquiries indicated that Abu Akleh was likely shot dead by Israeli forces, and witnesses at the scene said there was no active conflict with Palestinian militants.