Watchdogs say IDF strike that killed a journalist in Lebanon merits a ‘war crime’ probe

Civil Defense workers remove the body of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah who was killed by shelling, at Alma al-Shaab border village with Israel, south Lebanon, Friday, October 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Civil Defense workers remove the body of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah who was killed by shelling, at Alma al-Shaab border village with Israel, south Lebanon, Friday, October 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

An Israeli strike in Lebanon that killed one journalist and injured six others on October 14 merits a “war crime” investigation, rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch tell AFP.

Issam Abdallah, 37, was killed instantly in the strike. The others present — two other Reuters journalists, two from Al Jazeera, and two from AFP — were all injured. AFP photographer Christina Assi, 28, was seriously wounded, later had a leg amputated and is still in hospital.

The Israeli military has said it was sorry for the death of a Reuters journalist killed when caught up in cross-border shelling along the frontier with Lebanon, but has not acknowledged responsibility, saying it was investigating the incident.

The AFP news agency says a probe it conducted points to the death being caused by a tank shell only used by the Israeli army.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.