Foreign Relations Committee Passes Van Hollen Amendment Requiring State Department to Provide Report on Shooting Death of American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s passage of his amendment to the Department of State Authorization Act, requiring the State Department to provide Senators with the report overseen by the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Shireen Abu Akleh:

“Over 100 days ago, American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while reporting in the West Bank. Following her death, my colleagues and I requested an independent investigation led by the United States as well as answers to basic questions around her shooting and a copy of the report produced by the U.S. Security Coordinator. This amendment will ensure that the Senate will receive the USSC report as we requested in July – and I’m glad that it was adopted by the Foreign Relations Committee. I will continue pressing for full accountability and transparency around the death of Shireen – anything less is unacceptable.”  

Senator Van Hollen’s amendment was included in the Manager’s package of the Department of State Authorization Act, passed by the Foreign Relations Committee today, and will now head to the floor for consideration before the full Senate. Senator Van Hollen has led two letters calling for answers on the shooting death of Shireen Abu Akleh, which can be found here and here. The text of the Senator’s amendment is below. 

SEC. 716. REPORT OF SHOOTING OF PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST IN JENIN. 

Not later than 14 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a complete copy, in classified or unclassified format, as appropriate, of the report overseen by the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin on May 11, 2022.