Israeli Tank Shells Accused of Causing the Fatal Demise of Reuters Journalist in October
Comprehensive investigations reveal that Israeli tank shells were responsible for the tragic death of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injuries sustained by six other journalists in southern Lebanon These findings were unveiled by two news organizations and two human rights groups, shedding light on the incident in October
Israeli tank shells were identified as the cause of the October incident that led to the death of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and the injury of six other journalists in southern Lebanon, according to investigations by Reuters, AFP, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. The reports relied on forensic analysis, witness testimony, and interviews with government officials, lawyers, and medical professionals.
The results align with an analysis conducted by CNN at the time of the events. A CNN team in southern Lebanon reported that the projectile that struck the journalists on October 13 originated from Israel. CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for their response to these allegations.
Eylon Levy, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, stated on Thursday that he was not aware of the recent reports. He emphasized, "The guiding principle in Israel's campaign against Hamas is to uphold the principles of international law regarding proportionality, necessity, and distinction. Our target is Hamas, not civilians."
Reuters' journalist Issam Abdallah pose for a picture in Beirut, Lebanon, September 24, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Abi Nader
Yara Abi Nader/Reuters
Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in southern Lebanon, and six others were wounded. On October 14, IDF spokesperson Richard Hecht referred to Abdallah's death as "a tragic thing," without directly naming him or acknowledging any involvement from Israel. The IDF also stated that they received a report of journalists being injured in the area and that the incident is currently under review.
According to reports from AFP and HRW, the strike on the journalists was a deliberate, targeted attack by Israel. Hecht, in a statement to Reuters, denied targeting journalists but did not provide further comment. Abdallah, 37, was killed and six other reporters were wounded while filming the Israeli border from southern Lebanon. AFP photographer Christina Assi had her leg amputated and is currently hospitalized, as reported by AFP.
The analysis of weapon fragments found at the scene revealed that the journalists were killed and wounded by a 120 mm tank round of Israeli origin, which is not used by any other groups in the region, according to reports. The round was fired from a little over one kilometer from the team's position. Official statements and CNN's video analysis and geolocation of the incident confirmed that at least six other journalists from AFP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera, all wearing body armor clearly labeled as "press," were injured in the blast.
Fatma Kanso, mourns over her son's body during his funeral in his hometown of Al Khiyam, Lebanon, on October 14. Issam Abdallah, a Reuters videojournalist, was tragically killed in southern Lebanon.
Zohra Bensemra/Reuters
Al Jazeera has accused the Israeli military of intentionally targeting journalists in an effort to suppress media coverage. They have stated that these attacks are part of a consistent pattern of violence against members of the media.
Amnesty International's investigation found no evidence of fighters or military targets at the strike site, despite a claim by a Lebanese security source that an Israeli Apache helicopter was present. This assertion was also repeated in the investigations released on Thursday, October 13th, as reported by CNN.
Amnesty said in its report that despite Israeli forces having observation towers, ground elements, and air assets deployed to closely monitor the border, they should have been able to identify the journalists and civilians and not see them as a military target.
Aya Majzoub, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, stated that the investigation revealed evidence of an attack on international journalists reporting on hostilities, emphasizing that direct attacks on civilians and indiscriminate attacks are prohibited by international humanitarian law and can be considered war crimes.
AFP's report described the strikes as intentional and aimed at specific targets. According to AFP global news director Phil Chetwynd, the agency is committed to utilizing all available legal options to seek justice for Christina and Issam.
