Rights groups say the attack that killed a Reuters journalist and injured six others was “likely a direct attack on civilians.”
International rights groups say Israeli strikes that killed a journalist and injured six others in southern Lebanon were likely a direct attack on civilians and should be investigated as a crime of war.
Separate investigations by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International determined that the Israeli army fired artillery shells at journalists near the border on October 13, in what appeared to be targeted attacks against civilians. .
The attacks killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six other journalists, including Tel Aviv Tribune cameraman Elie Brakhia and journalist Carmen Joukhadar.
HRW stated that “the evidence indicates that the Israeli military knew or should have known that the group of people they were shooting at were civilians”, making the attack a “war crime”.
“This is an illegal and apparently deliberate attack against a highly visible group of journalists,” the HRW statement said.
The group also called on Israel’s allies – the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany – to “suspend military assistance and arms sales to Israel, given the risk that they are used for serious abuse.”
Amnesty, in its own report, said the Israeli military strikes “were likely a direct attack on civilians that should be investigated as a war crime.”
The group’s investigation found that the journalists were “well away from the ongoing hostilities, clearly identifiable as members of the media, and had remained motionless for at least 75 minutes before being hit “.
“No journalist should ever be targeted or killed simply for doing their job. Israel must not be allowed to kill and attack journalists with impunity,” said Aya Majzoub, Amnesty’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Journalists are eyes and ears on the ground, providing information and evidence that is vital for organizations like ours to determine what crimes are being committed,” Majzoub told Tel Aviv Tribune.
“Warring parties may not want journalists to document their crimes,” she added.
Journalists covering the Gaza war on the ground face unprecedented danger, according to media rights group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Since the start of the war in Gaza, at least 63 journalists have been killed, including 56 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese, according to the group.
The war also led to “the deadliest month for journalists” since CPJ began collecting data in 1992.
In 22 years, CPJ has documented at least 20 killings of journalists by the Israeli army. No one has ever been charged or held responsible for these deaths.
The organization said impunity in these cases has seriously undermined press freedom, leaving journalists vulnerable to attacks.
