According to various investigations, a Reuters reporter named Issam Abdallah was tragically killed by an Israeli tank shell in October. Organizations including Reuters, AFP, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have conducted extensive analyses, interviewed witnesses, and consulted with experts to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The findings are supported by CNN's analysis of the events, as well as reports from the scene. CNN, positioned near the South Lebanon border, reported that the granate responsible for Abdallah's death originated from Israel on October 13. Israel's armed forces (IDF) were asked for a statement, but their response was that they were unfamiliar with these reports and emphasized their commitment to upholding the principles of proportionality, necessity, and distinction as per international law.
On October 14, IDF spokesperson Richard Hecht referred to Abdallah's death as a "tragedy" without making direct acknowledgment or attribution of involvement. Later, they acknowledged reports of injured journalists in the vicinity, but the exact number was not confirmed.
AFP and Human Rights Watch accused Israel of a deliberate and targeted attack on journalists, while IDF spokesperson Hecht responded to Reuters by refuting the accusations.
The 37-year-old Abdallah was killed while filming the Israeli border from South Lebanon, and six additional journalists were wounded. AFP photographer Christine Assi suffered severe injuries, including the amputation of her leg, and remained in hospital as of the report.
According to AFP's analysis, the journalists were killed or injured by a 120-mm Israeli-made panzergranate fired at close range. The ammunition and fragments found at the scene were inconsistent with any other group operating in the region.
Al Jazeera accused the Israeli military of deliberately targeting journalists to suppress media coverage, considering it part of a pattern of "repeated atrocities" against journalists. An Amnesty International investigation revealed no evidence of combat aircraft or military targets in the area at the time of the attack.
Furthermore, a libyan security source reported to CNN that an Israeli Apache helicopter had been observed over the attack site in October. This allegation was later supported by the report published on December 7, 2023, which labeled the attack as intentional and unlawful.
AFP Global News Director Phil Chetwick expressed his organization's determination to pursue legal action to ensure justice for Christina and Issam. Amnesty International condemned the incident as a serious violation of humanitarian law, prohibiting direct attacks on civilians and arbitrary assaults that could amount to war crimes.
