H.R.7281 - To require a report on the death of Shireen Abu Akleh.
H.R.7281 was introduced on January 30, 2026 by Representative André Carson. It is currently pending before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and has 13 co-sponsors on a partyline basis.
Related legislation:
Bill Summary: H.R.7281 requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, Director of National Intelligence and Secretary of Defense to submit an unclassified report to Congress on the death of Shireen Abu Akleh including an attachment of any relevant unredacted reports and any report conducted by the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The report must identify all individuals and entities carried out, participated in, or were complicit in her killing as well as the identification of any U.S. defense materials, funds, or services that were implicated in Shireen's killing.
Context: Shireen Abu Akleh, an American citizen and senior journalist for Al Jazeera, was shot and killed on May 11, 2022, while covering an Israeli military raid in Jenin in the West Bank. Her colleague, journalist Ali Samudi was also shot in the shoulder and wounded. The Israeli government immediately blamed her killing on the Palestinians and for four months, after initially blaming Palestinian gunfire, acknowledged a high probability that Israeli forces were responsible. The Israeli government followed up this admission claiming Shireen was shot near armed Palestinians. However, investigations by American journalists found no evidence of armed Palestinians in the immediate vicinity, raising serious questions about the circumstances of the shooting.
A documentary by Zeteo identified an IDF sniper from an elite unit as the likely shooter and highlighted contradictions in official Israeli accounts. The documentary features Colonel Steve Gabavics, former Chief of Staff of the Office of the U.S. Security Coordinator, who stated that U.S. investigators were not informed that Israeli authorities may have known the identity of the shooter. Gabavics also noted that the precision and location of the shots did not suggest uncontrolled or indiscriminate fire, as claimed by the Israeli government, and stated that Israeli authorities were uncooperative in providing U.S. investigators access to IDF eyewitnesses.
The killing of an American citizen by a foreign military, including a possible unlawful killing, falls within the scope of Congressional oversight, particularly when a foreign government is uncooperative with U.S. efforts to investigate the death of a U.S. national. Contradictory evidence and continued denials by the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces indicate a lack of willingness to conduct a thorough and credible investigation. U.S. investigators were unable to interview Israeli soldiers involved in the incident, and Israeli authorities declined to provide access to IDF eyewitnesses. Under these circumstances, the U.S. must be able to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation to determine whether Shireen Abu Akleh was unlawfully killed
American Values Analysis: H.R.7281 reflects core American values by seeking accountability for the killing of an American citizen and affirming Congress’s responsibility to exercise oversight when a U.S. national is potentially killed by a foreign military. The pursuit of truth, transparency, and accountability, particularly in cases involving the death of an American journalist, aligns with longstanding American commitments to the rule of law, freedom of the press, and equal protection for U.S. citizens abroad.
American Interest Analysis: Protecting American journalists operating in conflict zones is a clear U.S. national interest. Journalists play a foundational role in informing the public, particularly in areas where independent information is scarce. When an American journalist is killed and the U.S. fails to conduct due diligence in determining the circumstances of that killing it increases fear and risks for journalists worldwide and undermines press freedom. H.R.7281 signals that the U.S. will investigate the killing of an American journalist regardless of diplomatic discomfort, reinforcing the expectation that U.S. citizens and the press are entitled to protection and accountability.
A New Policy’s Recommendation: SUPPORT
A New Policy supports H.R.7281 because it advances accountability and transparency by seeking to establish the full facts surrounding the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. By mandating an independent, public investigation into the death of an American journalist and requiring the identification of responsible individuals and any U.S. involvement, the legislation affirms Congress’s oversight role and underscores the principle that the killing of a U.S. citizen, particularly a journalist, must not go unanswered, regardless of diplomatic sensitivities.
For more information please contact: Josh Paul, (202) 770-0055, info@anewpolicy.org
