US Senator Chris Van Hollen (Democrat from Maryland) issued a statement on Tuesday calling for the declassification of a "summary report" of the US security coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Israeli occupation authorities, General Michael Finzel, after reviewing the report prepared by Finzel about the circumstances of the killing of the Palestinian journalist. American Sherine Abu Aqleh.

In his statement, Van Hollen said, "I would like to commend the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) General Michael Wenzel and his team for completing this inspiring summary report on the shooting death of journalist and American citizen Sherine Abu Aqleh. The USSC and his team approached their mission with objectivity and the utmost professional integrity." .

The senator, who demanded that those responsible for the killing of Sherine be punished from day one, revealed that: “Based on the information previously provided to me by the State Department, the Security Council and its team were not allowed access to key witnesses, and therefore they were unable to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting death of Sherine Abu Aqleh. As such, this summary report does not and cannot shed new light on the state of mind of the individual responsible for firing the fatal shot.

The senator, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and other US Senate committees, adds: “However, the report provides very important insights into the circumstances that led to the death of Shireen Abu Aqleh, including relevant information and findings about the conduct of the IDF unit involved in that operation.” In addition to other IDF units operating in the West Bank," noting that "in the aftermath of the killing of Shirin Abu Aqleh, Minister Blinken asked the Government of Israel to review the IDF's rules of engagement in the West Bank, but it was refused - and this review is still necessary." .

"Following my review of the USSC report (General Wenzel), I urge the administration to immediately declassify it in its entirety," Van Hollen said, asking US President Joe Biden's administration to declassify the report. "I firmly believe that a public release of the report is vital to ensuring transparency and accountability." In the shooting death of American citizen and journalist Shereen Abu Aqleh and in avoiding avoidable wrongful deaths in the future – goals we must all support.”

It is noteworthy that Senator Van Hollen demanded the declassification of the summary report prepared by the US security coordinator between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli occupation authorities since the announcement of the preparation of the summary report at the beginning of last May.

In an argument with Barbara Leaf, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs last Wednesday (31/5/23), Van Hollen stressed, “As you probably know, I have been trying for weeks now to get the updated and summarized report prepared by General Wenzel. [the American security coordinator] regarding the shooting death of Sherine Abu Aqleh (American-Palestinian journalist)," stressing that his patience was running out.