Investigation says journalists killed by intentional Israeli shelling
3 Min Read
Even though it did not name "Israel" explicitly, the RSF investigation bases its claim on ballistic analysis.
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In this photo, Issam Abdallah, a videographer for the news agency, poses for a selfie while working in Maras, Turkey, on February 11, 2023. (Issam Abdallah/Reuters via AP)
After an investigation was conducted by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), it was concluded that an artillery shelling that killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six others in southern Lebanon this month was intentional and came from "Israel".
Abdallah was martyred and six other journalists (two from AFP) were wounded in the shelling of the village of Alma al-Shaab in southern Lebanon on October 13.
In its report, RSF said, "The initial findings of the investigation show that the reporters were not collateral victims of the shooting," adding, "One of their vehicles, marked 'press', was targeted, and it was also clear that the group stationed next to it was [comprised of] journalists."
Even though it did not name "Israel" explicitly, the organization based its claim on ballistic analysis which showed that the shots came from the east of where the journalists were located near the southern borders of Lebanon.
Furthermore, it revealed that the journalists' location was hit by two strikes 37 to 38 seconds apart - the first killed Abdallah, while the second set ablaze the vehicle of an Al-Jazeera TV crew and injured several journalists.
Read next: At least 23 journalists killed by Israeli airstrikes in past 2 weeks
Clearly marked 'Press'
"Two strikes in the same place in such a short space of time, from the same direction, clearly indicate precise targeting," the report said, continuing, "It is unlikely that the journalists were mistaken for combatants, especially as they were not hiding: in order to have a clear field of vision, they had been in the open for more than an hour, on the top of a hill."
It is worth noting that the journalists' bullet-proof vests and the vehicle were marked 'press' to indicate they were journalists - protected under international law.
It is also worth mentioning that Reuters issued a statement expressing their "sadness" regarding the murder of their reporter but completely failed to mention the Israeli occupation or explain the circumstances of the killing.
— Reuters Press Team (@ReutersPR) October 13, 2023
'Deliberate crimes' against humanity
Two journalists interviewed by the RSF claimed that an Israeli helicopter flew over them a few seconds before the strikes happened.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Press Editors’ Syndicate condemned the “targeting” of journalists and called the murder of Abdallah a “deliberate crime.”
In its statement, Hezbollah said, “We vehemently denounce the occupying Israeli regime’s new crime against a journalist team of seven people covering news... near the Israeli enemy’s al-Abad site, outside the town of Hula, which resulted in the martyrdom of a civilian.”
— Reuters Press Team (@ReutersPR) October 13, 2023
“This act of aggression comes in line with the occupiers’ assaults on members of the press in Lebanon and Palestine, and is meant to prevent exposition of truth to the international community,” it noted.
This comes after a report by the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) declared that Israeli shelling since October 7 has left at least 24 journalists - 20 of them Palestinian - murdered and martyred.
"Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict in the face of a ground assault by Israeli troops, devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages," the CPJ stated.
