Journalists waiting for the press conference of US President Joe Biden and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to start in Bethlehem leave an empty chair for slain Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
A photo of Abu Akleh with the caption “Shireen Abu Akleh, the voice of Palestine,” is left on an empty chair.
Abu Akleh was shot dead in the West Bank in a volley of gunfire when covering an IDF raid in May during gunbattles between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen. Palestinians have accused Israel of killing her, while Israel has said it cannot draw a conclusive decision about her death. Palestinians have pressured Biden to speak out more forcefully on Abu Akleh’s death during his visit.
The State Department said last week that the prominent Al Jazeera journalist was likely shot from an Israeli position, but that there was no evidence the killing was intentional and that the bullet was too damaged for a conclusive finding.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier this week that he spoke with Abu Akleh’s family and invited them to visit Washington.
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