US urges transparent probe into Al Jazeera journalist's killing during Israeli raid in West Bank

United Nations: The US envoy to the UN on Wednesday said the killing of Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as she covered an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank must be “investigated transparently.”

“We’re encouraging both sides to participate in that investigation so that we can get down to why this happened,” US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. Washington’s “highest priority is protection of American citizens and the protection of journalists,” she added.

The Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV channel charged that Israeli forces deliberately and “in cold blood” shot veteran reporter Abu Akleh, 51, in the head during the unrest in the Jenin refugee camp.

But Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett suggested “armed Palestinians” were “likely” responsible.

Thomas-Greenfield said she had been interviewed by Abu Akleh during a visit to the region last year and had “extraordinary respect for her.”

State department spokesman Ned Price added on Twitter “we are heartbroken” by Abu Akleh’s death. “Those responsible must be held accountable. Her death is an affront to media freedom everywhere,” he said.