Congress members, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for an independent investigation into an attack in the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces on Oct. 13, 2023, six days after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel.
Sanders alleged that the strike was directed at working journalists.
Dylan Collins, a Vermont resident writing for the Agence France-Press, suffered shrapnel wounds to his face, arms and back. Five others were reported as being injured, and Issam Abdallah of Lebanon, who was reporting for Reuters, was killed.
“To date, Mr. Collins has received no explanation for the attack, and there have been no steps toward accountability. Given the inaction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, the United States must open an independent investigation into this incident,” the letter stated.
Co-signers included Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); and Reps. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
