Washington - "Jerusalem" dot com - Saeed Erekat - Senator Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) criticized President Joe Biden's administration for failing to investigate the death of Palestinian-American journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh in the occupied West Bank nearly three months ago.

Senator Chris Van Hollen questioned the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, about the Biden administration's handling of the killing of the Palestinian American journalist, Shireen Abu Aqleh, by Israeli occupation soldiers on May 11, and the official responded by saying that the US President Biden's administration does not support Such an investigation, prompting concerns that the case "isn't getting the attention it deserves," according to Senator Van Hollen.

In the impeachment hearing, Van Hollen noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously called for an "independent and credible investigation" into the murder of the veteran journalist, who had US citizenship.

"Just a simple yes or no question, is that still the position of the Biden administration?" Van Hollen asked. And the American diplomat, who visited Israel and the occupied Arab West Bank after Shirin's killing, responded to him by saying, "We asked that there be a credible investigation," without specifying the American role, but when she was pressed more by Senator Van Hollen, Lev added: "I will get back to you about that." Senator, because that was not my understanding of the nature of our position."

It is noteworthy that Secretary of State Blinken had said last June that Washington was calling for an "independent" investigation into the killing of Sherine Abu Aqelah, stressing that "when this investigation takes place, we will follow the facts, wherever they go, even if it is clear and direct."

But since then, the State Department has backtracked, with US State Department spokesperson Ned Price stating last week that there had been no change in the initial approach of the Biden administration, which stipulated that Israel had the capabilities and capabilities to conduct a thorough and thorough investigation.

This stance has angered Palestinian rights advocates, who argue that Israel cannot be trusted to investigate its own abuses.

The famous Palestinian-American journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh was killed, and colleague Ali Al-Samudi was injured at the same moment while they were covering the attempt to invade the Jenin camp by the Israeli occupation forces on May 11, and the Israeli occupation authorities attacked her funeral later that month and beat the pallbearers, and pushed them until They almost threw her coffin to the ground.

Senator Van Hollen told Leaf that many US lawmakers would be "very disappointed" if the administration did not push for an independent investigation.

"There are a number of us who will not allow this matter to be swept under the rug, and we are looking for answers," he said.

It is noteworthy that on July 4, the US State Department admitted that the fatal bullet that hit may have come from an Israeli army position, but portrayed the killing of the journalist as "an unintended consequence of tragic circumstances."

The US administration also said that a "detailed forensic analysis" of the bullet concluded that it was too damaged to originate.

The administration concluded that "Israeli soldiers had no intent to kill the journalist," despite the US administration's admission that it did not conduct its own investigation. Instead, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at the time that the conclusion was based on a "summary" of investigations by the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

But the investigation by the Palestinian Authority found that Israeli forces deliberately shot Abu Aqelah, who was wearing full protective clothing, with “Press” clearly written on it. Numerous investigations by independent media outlets such as the Associated Press, CNN, CNN and the Washington Post and The New York Times concluded from their own investigations that the Israeli occupation forces fired at the journalists, although there were no Palestinian gunmen shooting at the Israeli soldiers from behind the journalists, as they initially claimed.

Senator Van Hollen and other key Democrats wrote to Blinken last month to stress that the revision of the July 4 statement from the State Department "falls short of any reasonable definition of the independent investigation that you and members of Congress have called for."

Dozens of other US lawmakers, including some staunchly pro-Israel lawmakers, have also urged an independent investigation with US participation.

Last week, the Abu-Aqleh family visited Washington, D.C. to press officials for accountability and demand a US-led investigation, but the Abu-Aqleh family members, her brother Tony Abu-Aqleh, and her niece, Lina Abu-Aqleh, were unable to meet US President Biden despite repeated requests. .