Human Rights Watch says the April 22 Israeli strike in southern Lebanon that killed journalist Amal Khalil and seriously wounded Zainab Faraj may constitute a war crime. HRW reviewed video, witness statements and other evidence and concluded the military knew or should have known the women were civilians. The group alleges rescue efforts were obstructed, including by a drone-deployed stun grenade, and is calling for an independent, transparent investigation and accountability under international humanitarian law.
HRW Says Israeli Strike That Killed Lebanese Journalist May Be War Crime, Urges Independent Probe
FILE PHOTO - A woman throws rice and rose petals over the coffin of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, during her funeral procession in the southern Lebanese village of Baysariyeh. (is associated with: «HRW: Israeli strike on Lebanon journalists may be war crime») Marwan Naamani/dpa
Human Rights Watch (HRW) says an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon on April 22 that killed journalist Amal Khalil and seriously wounded journalist Zainab Faraj may amount to a war crime, and is calling for an independent investigation.
After reviewing video footage, witness testimony and other evidence, HRW concluded that the Israeli military "knew or should have known" the two women were civilians. The rights group said its findings indicate civilians may have been deliberately targeted.
Sequence of Events
According to HRW, three separate strikes occurred that day: first, a vehicle ahead of the journalists' car was hit, killing two people; the journalists' car was then struck, forcing the women to shelter in a nearby building; that building was attacked shortly afterwards.
Obstruction of Rescue Efforts
HRW further alleges that rescue efforts were impeded. The report says Lebanese Red Cross paramedics were forced to withdraw after a stun grenade was dropped from a drone, and eyewitnesses reported an ambulance was damaged by gunfire.
"The Israeli military says it does not target journalists, but the facts and evidence show that it has repeatedly done so. Amal Khalil and Zainab Faraj are the latest victims in a long series of such attacks," said Ramzi Kaiss, HRW's Lebanon researcher.
HRW reported that the Israeli military provided only a brief response to its inquiry and did not answer follow-up questions. The military told HRW that a preliminary investigation found the journalist was killed during "a sequence of events" in which two Hezbollah fighters were also killed, and that it is continuing to investigate.
The rights group is urging an independent inquiry and accountability for any violations of international humanitarian law. The report also places the incident in a broader context of allegations that Israeli forces have killed journalists during the Gaza war; the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has accused Israel of a "long-standing, documented practice" of labeling reporters as terrorists without providing credible evidence.
HRW has requested access to further information and called on the international community to ensure a transparent, impartial investigation to determine responsibility and prevent further harm to civilians and media workers.
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