Rights groups are urging for an investigation into an Israeli strike that resulted in the death of a Reuters journalist and injured six others in southern Lebanon. The incident has raised concerns about the potential war crimes committed by Israel. The Israeli army, however, claims that the journalists were in an active combat zone and placed themselves in a dangerous area.
The incident occurred on October 13 when Lebanese Hezbollah fighters attacked across the border, prompting Israeli forces to open fire to prevent a suspected armed infiltration. A Reuters special report published on Thursday revealed that an Israeli tank crew fired two shells in quick succession, killing journalist Issam Abdallah and wounding six others, including Elie Brakhia and Carmen Joukhadar.
In response to the incident, the Israeli military stated that Hezbollah had launched an attack on multiple targets within Israeli territory along the Lebanese border. The military acknowledged the claim that journalists were killed but emphasized that the area was an active combat zone and being there was dangerous. They assured that the incident is currently under review.
Witnesses on the ground, including Reuters correspondent Ali Hashem, confirmed that the journalists were deliberately targeted. The reporters, wearing blue flak jackets and helmets with “PRESS” written on them, were filming cross-border shelling in and around Alma ash-Shaab when they were hit by a tank shell. The situation was described as horrifying and raises questions about the targeting of journalists in conflict zones.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the issue, stating that it is crucial for Israel’s inquiry into the killing to reach a conclusion and for the results to be made public. International rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called for a war crimes probe into Abdallah’s death. They argue that evidence indicates the Israeli military should have known that they were firing on civilians, making the attack a war crime.
Journalists covering Israel’s war on Gaza are facing unprecedented danger, according to the media rights group Committee to Protect Journalists. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, at least 63 journalists have been killed, with the majority being Palestinians. The high number of journalist casualties highlights the need for greater protection and accountability in conflict situations.
As the incident is under review, the world awaits the findings of the investigation and hopes for justice to be served. The safety of journalists and the importance of press freedom in conflict zones remain critical issues that need to be addressed.
