United Nations human rights experts on Thursday called for an independent international investigation into the killing of three Lebanese journalists, saying the incident could constitute a war crime and reflect a broader pattern of attacks on media workers.
Israeli forces, on March 28, killed Al Manar TV reporter Ali Choeib, along with Al Mayadeen journalist Fatima Ftouni and cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, in a series of targeted strikes on their car as they were driving through Jezzine, Lebanon, on a reporting assignment.
The experts strongly denounced what they described as a dangerous and recurring practice by Israel of targeting and killing journalists and then claiming, without credible evidence, that they were linked to armed groups.
“Journalists carrying out their professional duties in armed conflict are civilians and must not be targeted,” the experts said in a statement, adding that the deliberate killing of journalists not directly participating in hostilities constitutes a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law and a war crime.
The experts said the only “evidence” presented so far by Israeli forces to support their allegations was what they acknowledged to be a manipulated image of Ali Choeib, calling it a blatant disregard for international law.
According to the statement, at least 259 journalists and media workers have been killed since 2023 in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank, including 210 in Gaza and 14 in Lebanon. The experts said at least 64 of those cases appear to have involved direct targeting.
They urged the Lebanese government to preserve evidence and invite an independent international investigation, and called on countries that support media freedom to press Israel to halt attacks on journalists.
The experts, including Irene Khan, Morris Tidball-Binz and Ben Saul, serve in their personal capacities.