On Sunday, Lebanese journalists and activists called for justice for Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed last year by what investigations suggest was Israeli tank fire during coverage of cross-border clashes in south Lebanon. The incident occurred on October 13, 2023, when two rapid strikes killed the 37-year-old journalist and injured six others, including AFP photographer Christina Assi and video journalist Dylan Collins.
Assi suffered severe injuries that led to the amputation of her leg and five months of intensive care. Two separate investigations have indicated that an Israeli tank was responsible for the attack, although Israel denies targeting civilians or journalists.
On social media, the non-governmental organization Legal Agenda stated, “A year after the killing of photographer Issam Abdallah, Israeli impunity continues.” The Lebanese rights group Maharat urged the international community to enforce treaties and commitments aimed at protecting journalists. Journalist Salman Andary echoed this sentiment, demanding justice for Abdallah and other victims of similar violence.
Economist Jad Chaaban condemned the incident on social media, asserting, “Israel killed Abdallah by shelling a clearly marked press spot in the South of Lebanon,” while emphasizing that the Israeli army operates with impunity.
Since Israel escalated its campaign against Hezbollah on September 23, over 1,200 individuals have been killed in Lebanon, with more than a million displaced. The Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the lack of accountability for Israel regarding Abdallah’s death. CPJ Chief Executive Jodie Ginsberg noted, “Despite extensive evidence of a war crime, a year on from the attack, Israel has faced zero accountability for the targeting of journalists.”
The journalists were reporting from near the border village of Alma Al-Shaab, an area known for frequent clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah. An AFP investigation in December pointed to a tank shell used exclusively by the Israeli military as the source of fire, while an initial report from the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) indicated that two Israeli tank rounds were fired from the same position. TNO’s final findings suggested that the Israeli tank crew likely followed up with machine-gun fire.
In response to the attack, an Israeli military spokesperson expressed sorrow over Abdallah’s death, stating that Israel was “looking into” the incident but did not accept responsibility.