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Reacting to the US decision to investigate the Israeli army killing of veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Amnesty International said in a statement that Israel cannot keep killing Palestinians with impunity.

The US Department of Justice this week asked the FBI to open an investigation into the fatal shooting of Abu Akleh, who was killed in May while covering an Israeli army assault on the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

“Shireen Abu Akleh was an icon of journalism who spent decades telling the stories of Palestinians. While we welcome this new move towards justice for her killing, we share the Abu Akleh family’s call for the FBI investigation to be truly independent and thorough, and for accountability to go right to the top of the Israeli military’s chain of command. Israeli forces cannot keep killing Palestinian civilians with impunity,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“Shireen Abu Akleh’s death was not an isolated incident – she is among 150 Palestinians who have been killed by Israeli authorities in the West Bank so far this year. These killings, which mostly took place in the context of police operations and raids, are part of a system of apartheid which thrives on violent oppression and crimes under international law. Any government that cares about justice and human rights must pressure Israeli authorities to dismantle the apartheid system and take steps to hold Israeli officials to account,” she added.

“Given the climate of impunity that prevails in Israel, we reiterate our call on all states, including the US, to support the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the situation in Palestine. We will continue to demand justice for Shireen Abu Akleh – and for all Palestinians who have been unlawfully killed by Israeli forces – for as long as it takes,” Morayef concluded her statement.