A group of Democratic senators criticized a U.S. led review of the death of a Palestinian-American journalist, saying it was hard to conclude who killed him.

Funeral Of Al Jazeera Reporter Shireen Abu Akleh Killed In The Occupied West Bank

A family and relatives attend the funeral of a reporter.

Getty Images

The senators wrote a letter to the Secretary expressing their concerns about the investigation.

The State Department's investigation into Abu Akleh's death may have been too limited in scope if it didn't include a visit to the West Bank site where she died and a review of the bullet that killed her.

The lawmakers wanted to know if the U.S. reviewed video footage, interviewed witnesses, spoke with experts, and examined any other bullets fired nearby.

The Biden Administration was urged to push for an independent investigation into the shooting by a number of lawmakers.

The State Department has been contacted by Forbes.

PLAY Forbes Business Full Screen About Connatix Airlines Suffered ‘Public Relations Disaster’ But Earnings Look Good Read More China Billionaire’s Tianqi Lithium Raises $1.7 Bln In Hong Kong Stock Sale Read More How Buying A Ticket To A Nascar Race Is About To Change Forever Read More Read More Scarlett Johansson Opens Up About Life As An Entrepreneur And The Future Of Her ‘The Outset’ Skincare Line Read More Russia’s Torching of Wheat Fields in Ukraine May Not Disrupt Global Supplies as Much as Putin Hopes Read More 1/1 Skip Ad Continue watching after the ad Loading PodsVisit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE Airlines Suffered ‘Public Relations Disaster’ But Earnings Look Good

The senators said that this doesn't meet the definition of an independent investigation that Congress has called for. It doesn't give the transparency that this case requires.

The State Department may or may not release more information. The four senators wanted to know if they would get a response within two weeks.

Key Background

A U.S. citizen and well-known Al Jazeera journalist was killed while reporting on an Israeli raid in the West Bank. Her death renewed tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as the PA cast it as an intentional killing and refused to give the bullet to Israeli investigators. The State Department said last week that it wasn't possible to determine who shot Abu Akleh because the bullet was too damaged, but that she was probably killed by Israeli Defense Force troops. The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press published analyses that said Israeli forces probably shot Abu Akleh.

Chief Critic

According to Al Jazeera, members of Abu Akleh's family wrote a letter last week saying they felt betrayed by the Biden Administration's investigation.

What To Watch For

The president is going to visit Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia. Political upheaval in Israel, which is headed to its fifth election in three years after its governing coalition collapsed, is one of the reasons behind the trip.

The United States says that a Palestinian reporter was killed by Israeli gunfire.