AOC, Ilhan Omar and progressive Democrats call for US investigation into Israel's Abu Akleh killing

Shireen Abu Akleh’s family, members of Congress, and multiple rights institutions are continuing to push for a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing of the Palestinian American journalist. 

The veteran journalist was shot dead with a single bullet on 11 May when she was on assignment in the West Bank town of Jenin during an Israeli raid.

Eyewitness accounts and detailed media reports point to the Israeli military as the perpetrator. The US promised to investigate the killing, but shortly after being given the deadly bullet, they announced that it was too damaged to conclude.  

A news conference on Friday followed a week of meetings between the Abu Akleh family and the US administration and other government officials. 

On Thursday, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio tweeted: "The Abu Akleh family deserves accountability. CNN, NYT, etc found Shireen was shot by an Israeli sniper while wearing a press vest. Yet, the U.S. has done nothing. We didn’t even conduct a thorough investigation in this murder of an American reporter. President Biden must act." 

Similarly, Illinois Congresswoman Marie Newman tweeted: "I was honored to stand with the family of Shireen Abu Akleh and echo their demands for #JusticeforShireen. 

"I am outraged that there still has not been an independent, US-led investigation of her death. I joined my colleagues to demand immediate action." 

Summing up the Congress members’ determination to see an independent investigation of the killing, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar tweeted: "We won’t stop fighting for justice and accountability for the family of Shireen Abu Akleh."