Defense Minister Benny Gantz says an American investigation into the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is unnecessary and insists there had been no intention of deliberately harming her.
“I want to say clearly, honestly and respectfully – the State of Israel acts against murderous terror and the IDF operates in very difficult battlefields,” says Gantz during the National Unity party’s faction meeting in the Knesset on Tuesday.
“In the case of Abu Akleh, the IDF carried out a professional investigation and included the US fully [in that investigation],” he notes, echoing comments Monday night in which he said Jerusalem would not cooperate with the FBI probe.
“This was a very difficult battle in which hundreds of bullets were fired at IDF soldiers and also in her [Abu Akleh’s] direction and there was no intention to harm her. IDF investigations are deep and thorough and there is no need to open another investigation,” he adds.
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