Justice for Shireen: the American investigation

This episode of The Take revisits the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a revered figure in Middle Eastern media, who was fatally shot by Israeli forces on May 11, 2022. Her niece, Lina Abu Akleh, shares intimate memories of her aunt and recounts the emotional toll of losing her, while also detailing the family’s relentless pursuit of justice. Despite repeated calls from the Biden administration for an independent investigation, the U.S. State Department’s July 4 statement—concluding that Israeli military gunfire likely caused her death but was not intentional—was met with outrage by the family, who view it as a superficial summary of Israeli and Palestinian Authority reports rather than a genuine probe. The episode explores the legal and political avenues available to the U.S. government, including potential criminal investigations by the Department of Justice under war crimes statutes, sanctions, or visa revocations, as seen in the Jamal Khashoggi case. However, the State Department has failed to respond to congressional inquiries, and U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, are pushing for a formal report that could influence $3.8 billion in annual military aid to Israel. Journalist Saeed Erkat, a Palestinian-American covering the State Department, reflects on systemic indifference toward Palestinian lives and the broader pattern of silenced voices, emphasizing that Shireen’s killing is part of a larger crisis of accountability for Palestinian journalists, with over 60 killed since 1967. The family’s fight is not just for one life, but for a future where no other family must endure such grief.