Reuters Demands Israel Answer on Shana's Death in Gaza Strip

Reuters renewed its demand for a prompt explanation from the Israeli army of why it fired on its cameraman, Fadel Shana who was killed by an Israeli tank crew in the Gaza Strip.

Shana, a 24-year-old Palestinian, was killed on April 16 along with eight mostly teenage bystanders by darts known as flechettes that burst out of a tank shell in mid-air. Shana had been filming about 1.5 km (a mile) from two Israeli tanks.

Reuters said that the Israeli army said it had completed an initial field investigation that had determined the soldiers had followed orders and acted appropriately. But military lawyers still had to study the case before the army could give a full account.

'A month has passed since Fadel Shana was killed by Israeli forces while responsibly going about his professional duties,' said Reuters Middle East Managing Editor Mark Thompson.

'We urge the Israeli forces to release their report on the incident now so that media organisations and the military can cooperate on ways ensure journalists can continue to cover this conflict.'