Intentional Murder of Palestinian-American Journalist Accusation in New Documentary
Updated: May 9, 2025, 5:02 AM CDT
The recently released documentary from media outlet Zeteo sheds light on the controversy surrounding the death of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank in May 2022. Who Killed Shireen? calls into question the U.S. government's assertion that this was merely a tragic accident. The documentary alleges that the Biden administration deliberately softened its internal findings to shield a crucial ally.
Abu Akleh, an esteemed reporter for Al Jazeera, was wearing a blue flak jacket clearly marked "press" when she was gunned down by an Israeli soldier while reporting on an Israeli military operation in Jenin, West Bank. Nobody has been held accountable. Israeli authorities initially claimed that it was "likely" that Abu Akleh was hit by Israeli gunfire intended for suspects identified as armed Palestinian gunmen during a firefight.
In the documentary, a former Biden administration official, whose identity has been protected, admits that an initial U.S. assessment concluded Abu Akleh's killing was deliberate, and the soldier responsible for the fatal shot would have been aware they were shooting at a journalist. NPR's Daniel Estrin confirmed these findings during interviews with the same official. Investigative filmmaker and former Wall Street Journal correspondent Dion Nissenbaum served as an executive producer for the film. He spoke to Morning Edition host Leila Fadel.
On the documentary's claims about the Biden administration's initial assessment:
"Our investigation revealed that U.S. personnel went to the scene in Jenin to investigate what happened. They discovered that the Israeli soldier intentionally targeted Shireen."
"Unfortunately, this initial assessment was subsequently overruled by the Biden administration. They clearly stated that her death was unintentional."
The soldier identified as the shooter - and the confirmation process:
The documentaryNames the soldier as Alon Scagio, though NPR has yet to independently confirm his identity. As a 20-year-old soldier on his first combat deployment in the West Bank, Scagio was killed in Jenin the following summer. Israeli soldiers who knew and served with him have confirmed this identification. The Israeli military, unsurprisingly, remains silent on the matter.
"Our team has conducted extensive research, and we are confident we've identified the gunman responsible for Shireen's death," declared Nissenbaum.
On the escalating danger for journalists in Israel and occupied territories:
Since the Israel-Gaza war began, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported that over 176 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon. CPJ classifies at least 19 of these journalists and two media workers as having been directly targeted by Israeli forces, with their deaths labeled as "murders."
"Abu Akleh's killing marked the start of a dark trend for the Israeli military," said Nissenbaum. "Prior to her death, Israel was never considered a dangerous place for journalists to work. But, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel is now considered the most hazardous country for journalists, particularly in Gaza." In the last few months alone, two more Gaza journalists have been killed in new strikes.
The Israeli military denies targeting journalists and claims some of the journalists documented by CPJ were Hamas operatives.
In response to NPR's inquiry about the documentary's claims, the Israeli military shared this statement:
"Zeteo publicized the name of the IDF soldier who fell during an operational activity, despite the family's request for anonymity. Regardless, there is still no definitive determination as to the identity of the individual responsible for Shireen's death."
On the potential impact of U.S. policy on American fatalities:
"We believe that the Biden administration's inaction in holding Israel accountable and pushing them to change their rules of engagement has led to the deaths of more Americans in the West Bank," said a commentator in the documentary. "The U.S. should have held Israel accountable, implemented tighter engagement protocols, and ensured civilians were not being targeted."
On Nissenbaum's aspirations for the film:
"I'm hoping the film provokes some serious reflection from the Israeli military regarding their conduct towards civilians and journalists in the West Bank. I hope the U.S. government reflects on its obligation to protect American citizens and seek justice for those wronged, like Shireen. Lastly, I wish for U.S. officials to consider ways they can exert pressure on Israel to enforce stricter rules of engagement."
This story was produced for radio by Milton Guevara.
Copyright 2025 NPR
The documentary, Who Killed Shireen?, questions the U.S. government's assertion that Shireen Abu Akleh's death during an Israeli military raid was a tragic accident, as it alleges the Biden administration deliberately softened its internal findings to protect a crucial ally. Moreover, the documentary claims that the U.S. government subsequently overruled an initial assessment that revealed Abu Akleh's killing was deliberate and the soldier responsible for her death was aware they were shooting at a journalist.
