Rights groups decry Israeli killing of Lebanese journalist as 'war crime'

Rights groups have condemned an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon that killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured another reporter in April. The attack occurred in the village of Al-Tiri, a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced. Khalil, a 42-year-old reporter for Al-Akhbar, and freelance camerawoman Zeinab Faraj sought refuge in a building after an Israeli strike hit a vehicle in front of them.

The building was later targeted, and while Faraj was rescued, Lebanese authorities accused the Israeli army of hindering rescue efforts for Khalil. Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, and Lebanese rights group The Legal Agenda released investigations into the incident. HRW and Amnesty both deemed the Israeli strikes, which reportedly targeted civilians, as war crimes, as the Israeli military should have known the pair were civilians.

The Legal Agenda concluded that the Israeli military's actions constituted war crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law. The Israeli army claimed it targeted a vehicle from a Hezbollah military structure, stating they did not prevent rescue teams from reaching the area. Amnesty reported that the Israeli army acknowledged a preliminary review and expressed regret for any harm caused to journalists.

Khalil was a seasoned correspondent for Al-Akhbar, reporting from southern Lebanon during conflicts in 2023 and 2024. Journalists have faced 15 killings by Israel in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.