Denying Accusations Of Deliberately Shooting Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Israeli Defense Minister: Claims About IDF Lies, Hand Over The Bullets

JAKARTA - Israeli authorities have firmly denied allegations that they intentionally shot Al Jazeera senior journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, reiterating that they are ready to carry out a joint investigation.

The Israeli army has said earlier that Abu Akleh may have been shot accidentally by one of its soldiers, or by a Palestinian militant in the crossfire.

The Palestinian Authority said its investigation found that Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was deliberately shot by Israeli soldiers. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz rejected the findings.

"Any claim that the IDF willfully harm journalists or uninvolved civilians is a blatant lie," he wrote on Twitter.

Furthermore, Gantz reiterated his call for the Palestinians to cooperate with Israel in the investigation, submitting the bullets for ballistic tests to see if they are compatible with Israeli military weapons.

"I continue to ask the PA (Palestine) to hand over the bullets and their findings. We are ready and willing to carry out investigations in collaboration with international actors," said Gantz.

The Palestinians say they do not trust Israel and have refused to carry out a joint investigation.

As previously reported, Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al-Khatib told reporters that investigations showed that none of the militants were close to Abu Akleh when he died.

"The only source of fire in the area was from the occupying forces with the intent to kill," Al-Khatib said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

He added that Abu Akleh, who had been wearing a helmet and vest bearing the words 'Press' which clearly marked him as a journalist, had been trying to escape with some of his fellow journalists, when the first shots were heard.

"This is a war crime," said Al-Khatib.

Al-Khatib said tests showed that the bullet that killed Abu Akleh was a 5.56mm bullet fired from the Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle, which is used by the Israeli military.

The same 5.56 caliber can also be fired from the M-16 rifle carried by many Palestinian militants. Al-Khatib did not say how he believed it came from an Israeli rifle.