Washington - (AFP) - The family of journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh , who was killed while covering the occupation forces' storming of the Jenin camp in May, urged the United States today, Tuesday, to conduct an independent investigation and hold Israel accountable, on a visit to Washington at the invitation of Secretary of State Anthony. blinkin.

The family, who will also meet deputies, said it calls on the United States to conduct a "comprehensive, credible, independent and transparent" investigation into Abu Aqleh's killing.

"For far too long, the United States has enabled Israel to kill with impunity by providing arms, immunity, and diplomatic cover," her brother Tony Abu-Aqleh wrote in a statement.

"Impunity leads to repetition. We are here to do our part and ensure this cycle ends," he added.

"If we allow Shireen's murder to be ignored, we are sending the message that the lives of American citizens abroad do not matter, that the lives of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation do not matter, and that the most courageous journalists in the world, those who cover the human impact of armed conflict and violence, They can be dispensed with."

The Palestinian-American journalist Abu Aqleh, who had been working for the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera for 25 years, was killed on May 11 after being shot in the head while she was covering the occupation's raid on the outskirts of Jenin camp, in the northern West Bank.

On July 4, the United States issued a statement saying that Abu Aqeela was likely hit by Israeli fire, but that there was no evidence that her killing was intentional, and that the bullet was too badly damaged to reach a "final conclusion."

The Palestinians and the journalist's family condemned the statement at the time, describing it as "attempts to obscure the truth" in the case of the murder of journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh.

Israel says it is still investigating her killing and rejects allegations that it targeted a female journalist.

The Abu Aqel family tried in vain to meet US President Joe Biden when he visited Israel and the West Bank earlier this month. However, Blinken invited the family to visit Washington, as National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced at the time.

Blinken earlier spoke to her family by phone and publicly criticized Israel for using force at her funeral when police prevented mourners from raising Palestinian flags and chanting patriotic slogans. Abu Aqelah's coffin almost fell to the ground from the hands of the mourners after they were beaten with batons by the Israeli police, who arrested some of them.