Intentional Murder Accusation in Documentary Against Death of Palestinian-American Journalist
Updated May 9, 2025 at 5:02 AM CDT
A hard-hitting documentary from Zeteo, Who Killed Shireen?, shakes up the United States government's position on the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank in May 2022. The film presents evidence suggesting the incident was no accidental tragedy but a deliberate act, with the Israeli soldier who pulled the trigger even identified. Moreover, it alleges the Biden administration shifted its internal findings to protect a vital ally, deliberately downplaying the event.
Abu Akleh, a seasoned reporter for Al Jazeera, was sporting a blue flak jacket emblazoned with "press" when a bullet from an Israeli soldier's gun ended her life while she covered an Israeli military operation in the city of Jenin, in the West Bank. No one's been held accountable for her brutal murder. At the time, Israel's military claimed Abu Akleh was accidentally killed by gunfire aimed at suspects identified as armed Palestinian militants during a firefight.
In this investigative documentary, a former Biden administration official, who remains anonymous to safeguard his identity, states a US review initially concluded Abu Akleh's death was a calculated move, with the soldier responsible for the fatal shot fully aware he was firing at a journalist. NPR's Daniel Estrin spoke to the same confidential source, who made the same assertions. The documentary was produced by Dion Nissenbaum, a former Wall Street Journal correspondent who also served as an executive producer. He shared his insights with Morning Edition host Leila Fadel.
On the documentary's findings about the Biden administration's evaluation:
"Our research led us to a key US official who spilled the beans about US personnel heading to the scene in Jenin, where Shireen was killed, to try and uncover the truth. Turns out, their initial hypothesis was that the Israeli soldier intentionally targeted Shireen."
"Regrettably, this initial assessment was basically squashed by the Biden administration. They declared explicitly that it was unintentional."
On the alleged shooter named in the documentary — the verification process:
The documentary points a finger at a 20-year-old soldier, but, to sip the salt, we haven't wrangled the facts to confirm his identity.
"He was a rookie soldier embarking on his first combat deployment in the West Bank. Somehow, we managed to track him down; ironically, he met his end in Jenin the following summer."
"To authenticate our findings, we got in touch with Israeli soldiers who knew him and served alongside him. We've conversed extensively with the Israeli military about this issue. They're keeping mum, but I can assure you — we've got the shooter's name on our list."
On the importance of Abu Akleh's killing and the perilous landscape for journalists in Israel and the occupied territories:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has registered over 176 journalists and media workers killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon since the Israel-Gaza conflict began. CPJ reports that 17 of these journalists and two media workers were directly targeted and murdered by Israeli forces. Israel contends that some of the journalists documented by CPJ were Hamas operatives.
"Shireen's demise was a sort of stepping stone for Israel's military strategy. Prior to her, Israel was never on the list of the deadliest countries for journalists. However, going by the CPJ's latest data, Israel now sits atop as the deadliest country for journalists, thanks to the continuous chaos and bloodshed in Gaza. Two more journalists in Gaza were recently claimed by Israeli strikes, illustrating a distressing escalation in hostilities against media workers."
The Israeli military rebuts allegations that it deliberately targets journalists, claiming some of the journalists documented by CPJ as casualties were Hamas operatives.
On the Israeli military's statement regarding the documentary's claims:
"Zeteo has tossed the name of the IDF soldier who lost his life during a mission, despite the family's plea not to publish it, and when they were informed there's no conclusive proof about the identity of the soldier responsible for her death."
On the potential impact of the US government's policy on the rise in American fatalities:
"As our research reveals in the documentary, there are some, like Senator Chris Van Hollen, who believe that the Biden administration's failure to rebuke Israel for its actions led to the death of other Americans in the West Bank. The US administration should have stood up to Israel, demanding they alter their rules of engagement to avoid firing at unarmed civilians."
On Nissenbaum's aspirations for the film:
"I'm hopeful this film will ignite a few sparks of introspection within the Israeli military circles regarding their approach to civilians and journalists in the West Bank. I hope the US government takes the time to reflect on its responsibility in pursuing justice for an American citizen killed by Israeli forces. I hope US officials find the courage to confront the difficult questions this incident raises about their relationship with Israel."
This piece was pieced together for radio by Milton Guevara.
Copyright 2025 NPR
- The documentary, Who Killed Shireen?, suggests that the Israeli soldier who shot and killed Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh intentionally targeted her.
- A former Biden administration official alleges that US personnel initially concluded Abu Akleh's death was a deliberate act, but this assessment was later overruled by the administration.
- The documentary points to a 20-year-old Israeli soldier as the one responsible for Abu Akleh's death, but his identity has not yet been confirmed.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that Israel is now the deadliest country for journalists, with the number of journalists and media workers killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon since the Israel-Gaza conflict began reaching over 176.
- Senator Chris Van Hollen believes that the Biden administration's failure to rebuke Israel for its actions in the West Bank may have led to the death of other Americans in the region.
