Bethlehem/PNN/

The family of the slain Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh said it felt 'encouraged by the news' of the decision of the US Department of Justice to open an investigation into the killing of the veteran journalist.

Lina Abu Akleh, the journalist's niece, took it to Twitter to post an official statement on behalf of the Abu Akleh family, expressing hope that the US "will use all of the investigative tools at its disposal to get answers about Shireen’s killing and hold those who are responsible for this atrocity accountable."

The Abu Akleh family has been fighting for justice for al-Jazeera journalist ever since her killing by Israeli gunfire last May.

The US administration has informed the Israeli authorities that the FBI will open its own investigation into the killing of al-Jazeera journalist.

In response to the US decision, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gants tweeted that "the decision taken by the US Justice Department to conduct an investigation into the tragic passing of Shireen Abu Akleh, is a mistake."

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that this decision, albeit a late one, reflects the certainty of the US side for the lack of any serious Israeli investigations and slams them as mere attempts to cover up for criminals and murderers.

It affirmed the Palestinian side’s readiness to fully cooperate with any international or American investigations opened into the killing of Abu Akleh and others victims of extrajudicial killings.

Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, a Palestinian-American prominent journalist who covered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for over 25 years, was shot dead in early May during an Israeli military raid into the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.