An American investigation into the bullet that killed an Al Jazeera journalist “could not reach a definitive conclusion” because the bullet was damaged.

It also suggested that the bullet was likely fired from an Israeli military position and found no reason to believe that the shooting was intentional, according to the state department spokesman, Ned Price. 

Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American, was killed while covering an Israeli raid on May 11, in Jenin on the West Bank. Since her death, acrimony has escalated over accountability for the killing. The funeral in May was marked by clashes between mourners and the police. On Saturday, the Palestinian Authority handed over the bullet in question to American authorities for forensic testing. 

Prime Minister Lapid said on Monday that “the IDF investigation was unable to determine who is responsible for the tragic death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, but it was able to determine conclusively that there was no intention to harm her. Israel expresses sorrow over her death.”

The Palestinian general prosecutor, Akram al-Khatib, said that the American conclusion that the bullet was too badly damaged for adequate analysis was “unacceptable” and that “the technical data in our possession indicates that the condition of the shell is viable for matching with the firearm” that shot it. 

A Palestinian Authority official, Hussein al-Sheikh, went even further, saying that “we will not permit attempts to conceal the truth or timid comments in indicting Israel” and that the Palestinians would be pursuing Abu Akleh’s case before “international courts.”

Investigations by the United Nations, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and others concluded with a range of certainty that the bullet was fired by Israeli military positions. Israel has disputed those conclusions. 

In a statement released on Twitter by Shireen Abu Akleh’s niece, Lina Abu Akleh, the journalist’s family promised to “continue to advocate for justice for Shireen, and to hold the Israeli military and government accountable, no matter the attempts to obfuscate the reality of what happened on May 11.” 

Concerns over Abu Akleh’s death threatened to overshadow President Biden’s upcoming trip to Israel and the West Bank in mid-July, which White House officials told journalists is meant to be the “start of what we hope will be new and reinvigorated dialogue” between the Palestinian Authority and America, regional capitals, and, “most importantly, Israelis.” 

Mr. Price said in the statement that America  will encourage cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and will “remain engaged with Israel and the PA on next steps and urge accountability.”