Blame Israel For Death Of Al Jazeera Journalist, Palestinian President: We Reject Joint Investigation

Shireen Abu Akleh. (Twitter/@ShireenNasri)

JAKARTA - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday Israeli authorities took full responsibility for the killing of a veteran Al Jazeera reporter during clashes in the occupied West Bank and called for an international investigation.

Shireen Abu Akleh suffered a gunshot wound to the head in Jenin on Wednesday. Al Jazeera and Qatar, where the news network is based, accused Israeli forces of carrying out the killing.

Israel, which has voiced regret over Abu Akleh's death, said the fatal shot was probably carried out by a Palestinian gunman.

Through Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Israel has proposed a joint investigation with the Palestinians, asking them to provide bullets for examination.

"We reject joint investigations with the Israeli occupation authorities, because they committed crimes and because we do not trust them," Abbas said at an official memorial service for Abu Akleh, who is Palestinian-American.

He added that the Palestinian Authority "will immediately go to the International Criminal Court to track down the criminals".

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett confirmed that the Palestinian Authority had rejected a joint investigation.

"I reiterate my hope for open, transparent and full cooperation on these findings," he said in a statement.

Abu Akleh, 51, wore a blue vest clearly marked "Press" while reporting in Jenin, Al Jazeera said. He covered the latest arrest operation launched by the Israeli military amid deadly Arab attacks on Israel.

Salain Abu Akleh, another Palestinian journalist at the scene, Ali Samoodi, was also injured in the incident.

Abu Akleh's body was carried in a motorcade, from a hospital in the central Palestinian city of Ramallah to Abbas' compound. Hundreds of mourners lined both sides of the road, some throwing flowers.

The death drew international and Arab condemnation, including from the White House, which demanded a "comprehensive investigation".