Overview
- Retired Col. Steve Gabavics told the New York Times he concluded an Israeli soldier knowingly shot journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 and that his finding was removed from the U.S. assessment.
- Gabavics cited Israeli radio traffic noting journalists in the area, a lack of return fire, a clear sniper line of sight, and simulations showing a visible 'Press' vest as evidence of intentionality.
- Gabavics says Lt. Gen. Michael R. Fenzel deleted language attributing culpability to Israel and later sidelined him from the review.
- Fenzel defended the integrity of the office’s work, while the State Department’s public line has been that it found no reason to believe the shooting was intentional and described it as the result of tragic circumstances.
- Israel has said a soldier likely fired the fatal shot by accident with no personnel punished, and the FBI probe opened in 2022 has not produced any publicly released findings.