Jerusalem: The Israeli military said today that initial findings from its investigation into the April 16 killing in Gaza of a cameraman for the Reuters news agency indicated that troops did not realize they were firing at a journalist.

Palestinian cameraman Fadel Shana, 23,was killed by tank fire while covering fighting between Israeli troops and Gaza militants. His colleague Wafa Abu Mizyed was wounded.

Just before his death, Shana was filming an Israeli tank in the distance, and his final footage shows it firing a shell in his direction.

The military announced last week it was launching an investigation, after New York-based group Human Rights Watch said its own inquiries found evidence that the tank crew fired either recklessly or deliberately.

Maj Avital Leibovich, an army spokeswoman, ruled out any intent to harm journalists.

Source : PTI