U.S. officials who closely examined the 2022 shooting death of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank were deeply divided over the Biden administration’s public conclusions, with some officials convinced that her killing was intentional. That’s according to The New York Times, citing five current and former U.S. officials who worked on the case, including a career military policeman with 30 years’ experience. Speaking publicly for the first time, Colonel Steve Gabavics said the U.S. government had soft-pedaled his office’s findings to appease the Israeli government. He said he and his colleagues were left “flabbergasted” by the Biden State Department’s statement attributing Abu Akleh’s killing to “tragic circumstances.” Colonel Gabavics also spoke with journalist Mehdi Hasan of the news outlet Zeteo.

Col. Steve Gabavics: “My findings were beyond a reasonable doubt that this was an intentional killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.”

Mehdi Hasan: “This is on the 19th or 20th of May, 2022.”

Col. Steve Gabavics: “Yes.”

Mehdi Hasan: “This is within 10 days” —

Col. Steve Gabavics: “Yes.”

Mehdi Hasan: — “of her killing.”

Col. Steve Gabavics: “Yes.”

Mehdi Hasan: “You, on behalf of the United States government, are saying that, beyond reasonable doubt — that’s a legal standard in a criminal court” —

Col. Steve Gabavics: “Yes, it is.”

Mehdi Hasan: — “she was intentionally killed.”

Col. Steve Gabavics: “Correct.”