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by Ali Sawafta
RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 2 (Reuters) – The Palestinian Authority has handed over to US authorities, for forensic purposes, the bullet that killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh last May during a military operation. Israelis in the West Bank, Attorney General Akram al-Khatib announced on Saturday.
“The competent parties of the Palestinian Authority have authorized the American party to carry out ballistic expertise on the bullet. It has been handed over to them,” he said in a statement relayed by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The American diplomatic representation in Jerusalem could not be reached immediately.
The UN concluded in June following an investigation that Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, had been killed on May 11 by Israeli security forces and not “indiscriminate” Palestinian fire as initially claimed. Israeli authorities, who have not opened a judicial inquiry. (With contributions from Maayan Lubell Jerusalem and Nidal al-MUghrabi Gaza; written by Maayan Lubell, French version Sophie Louet)