UNIFIL report claims IDF tank fired at ‘clearly identifiable journalists’ in Lebanon in October

A UN investigation claims that an Israeli tank killed Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah in Lebanon last year by firing two 120 mm rounds at a group of “clearly identifiable journalists” in violation of international law.

The investigation by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), summarized in a report seen by Reuters, says its personnel did not record any exchange of fire across the border between Israel and Lebanon for more than 40 minutes before the Israeli Merkava tank opened fire.

“The firing at civilians, in this instance clearly identifiable journalists, constitutes a violation of UNSCR 1701 (2006) and international law,” the UNIFIL report says, referring to Security Council resolution 1701.

Asked about the UNIFIL report, IDF spokesperson Nir Dinar says Hezbollah had attacked the IDF near the Israeli community of Hanita on October 13. It responded with artillery and tank fire to remove the threat and subsequently received a report that journalists had been injured.

“The IDF deplores any injury to uninvolved parties, and does not deliberately shoot at civilians, including journalists,” Dinar says. “The IDF considers the freedom of the press to be of utmost importance while clarifying that being in a war zone is dangerous.”

Dinar says the General Staff’s Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism, which is responsible for reviewing exceptional events, will continue to examine the incident.