The Israeli army for the first time acknowledged a "high possibility" that Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli fire while covering an Israeli military operation in Jenin last May. In a statement, the Israeli army said, "It seems impossible to definitively identify the source of the gunfire that struck Ms. Abu Akleh and killed her. However, there is a high possibility that Ms. Abu Akleh was mistakenly hit by Israel Defense Forces fire aimed at suspects identified as Palestinian militants during an exchange of gunfire."
A senior Israeli military official, who briefed journalists on the findings of the army's investigation before releasing the statement, noted that the Israeli soldiers were unaware they were firing at journalists, and stated that "most likely" Abu Akleh's position with her back towards the soldiers played a contributing role. The military official said, "When they fired in that direction, the soldiers did not know they were firing at journalists. They thought they were firing at armed individuals shooting at them." He added, "The soldier is sorry, and I am sorry. This should not have happened, and it should not happen. It was not done intentionally," without naming the soldier.
