The Israeli leadership reacted harshly Sept. 7 to American calls for Israel to reexamine its military’s rules of engagement. The American call came on the backdrop of an internal IDF report that said it was likely American-Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead by an Israeli soldier by mistake. According to army sources cited in the Israeli press, it was “highly probable” an Israeli soldier under fire erroneously targeted Abu Akleh, mistaking her for a Palestinian militant. No criminal investigation into any soldier is expected.
Expressing sorrow over her death and describing it as a “tragedy that occurred amid heavy enemy fire,” Prime Minister Yair Lapid clarified that Israel is not reassessing its rules of engagement.
