Shireen Abu Akleh's family meets top US diplomat Blinken to 'demand justice for Shireen'

The family of slain Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday to demand justice for the killing of the Al Jazeera reporter during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a regular news briefing that Blinken was meeting the family and would reiterate the need for accountability.

Our family just finished meeting with @SecBlinken. Although he made some commitments on Shireen’s killing, we’re still waiting to see if this administration will meaningfully answer our calls for #JusticeForShireen.

— Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh) July 26, 2022

Lina Abu Akleh, Shireen Abu Akleh's niece, posted a video on Twitter from outside the State Department saying that she and other family members "are here to demand justice for Shireen.”

Shireen Abu Akleh was killed on May 11 during an Israeli raid in the town of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

The State Department said this month that Abu Akleh was likely killed by gunfire from Israeli positions but that it was probably unintentional, citing an investigation by the US Security Coordinator.

Her family and Palestinian officials have criticized the US report and maintained she was deliberately targeted. Israel denies this.

It has been over two months since an Israeli soldier shot and killed our beloved Shireen. For two months, we have been grieving an immeasurable loss, and we’re in DC this week to continue demanding accountability.

Read our family statement in the thread and @politico story: https://t.co/Nqt1ag8YEs

— Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh) July 26, 2022

"We do understand that sometimes these elements ... run at cross purposes - timeliness and thoroughness - but we want to see an investigation that is both timely, but is also thorough, and that importantly concludes in accountability," Price said when asked if there was a time frame for accountability.

The family had accused the United States of providing immunity to Israel over her killing. They unsuccessfully requested a meeting with President Joe Biden in person during his trip to Israel this month.

"We will pursue accountability for her murder wherever it may take us," said a statement on Twitter from Lina, Shireen's brother Tony and nephew Victor. "Shireen lived to uncover the truth behind every story, and so shall we."