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US vows to prevent "tragedies" similar to Shireen Abu Akleh's death
State Department spokesperson says US still condemns the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, saying they will ensure to take steps to prevent such "tragedies" from taking place.
US vows to prevent "tragedies" similar to Shireen Abu Akleh's death
A man visits the spot where Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed on May. / Photo: AFP / AFP

The US has pledged to pursue accountability over the killing of Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and take necessary measures to prevent similar "tragedies" from happening in the future.

"We condemned Shireen's killing when it happened a year ago, and we condemn it today as well. And we continue to pursue accountability to ensure that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Thursday.

Both the findings from the Israeli army and the findings from the US security coordinator continue to indicate that there was not an "intentionality" to the "very tragic incident," Patel told a press briefing.

Abu Akleh, 51, a Palestinian-American journalist, was killed on May 11, and the Palestinian Health Ministry said she was shot in the head while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin.

The Israeli army later admitted one of its soldiers likely shot the reporter -- who was wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest marked "Press" -- having mistaken her for a militant.

RelatedShireen Abu Akleh's family continues fight for justice, one year on

Abu Akleh's museum

The Palestinian Authority laid the cornerstone of a museum in the name of Abu Akleh.

Around 70 people attended the emotional ceremony on Thursday, including family, friends and Palestinian officials, as work officially commenced on the Shireen Abu Akleh Museum for Media.

Addressing the crowd, Abu Akleh's brother Anton said the museum would "convey the image of truth and the image of suffering for years to come".

"A whole generation has grown up listening to Shireen covering the suffering of the Palestinian people with this [Israeli] occupation," he said.

The museum is being built on land provided by the Ramallah municipality and will be devoted to Abu Akleh's legacy, as well as media education.

"Today we unveiled this project of the Shireen Abu Akleh Media Museum... Shireen began her life as a witness and ended as a martyr," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said at the ceremony.

"She's been in my house, in every Palestinian house, in every Arab home, and I'm not exaggerating if I say she has been in every house in the world."

The one year anniversary of her death was marked by a string of commemorative events.

In Jenin, a small crowd gathered to pay tribute to Abu Akleh at the spot where she was killed.

"She has become a symbol of the Palestinian struggle, and her sacrifice is no less than that of any Palestinian fighter," said Thaer Daoud, a resident of the West Bank city of Qalqiliya who had travelled to Jenin to pay his respects.

"Everyone bears witness to what she sacrificed for the sake of Palestine."

RelatedPalestine: Israeli troops 'deliberately' killed Al Jazeera reporter
SOURCE:TRTWorld and agencies