In a revelation sourced from Reuters on Wednesday, a recent United Nations investigation has concluded that an Israeli tank strike resulting in the death of 37-year-old Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in Lebanon last year violated international law.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) conducted an inquiry into the incident, revealing that two 120mm rounds fired by the tank targeted a group of journalists who were identifiable, thus constituting a breach of international legal standards. According to the report, there was no recorded exchange of fire between Israel and Lebanon for more than 40 minutes preceding the attack. The report alleged that the actions of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) contravene United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and international legal statutes.
Resolution 1701, established in 2006 to resolve the conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah forces, mandates the deployment of UN peacekeepers along the 120km demarcation line, known as the Blue Line, between the two nations. The primary objective of these peacekeeping forces is to monitor the ceasefire and investigate any violations thereof.
IDF spokesperson Nir Dinar acknowledged an incident on October 13 where Hezbollah purportedly attacked the IDF near Hanita, Israel. In response, the IDF deployed artillery and tank fire, subsequently receiving reports of journalist casualties. Dinar reiterated the IDF’s commitment to avoiding harm to civilians, including journalists, underscoring the dangers inherent in conflict zones.
Reuters’ Editor-in-Chief, Alessandra Galloni, urged Israel to elucidate the circumstances surrounding the fatal attack and to hold those responsible accountable. The UNIFIL report, submitted to the United Nations on February 28, has been shared with both the Lebanese and Israeli military authorities.
The report recommends that the IDF conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and review its operation protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future. It underscores the imperatives of safeguarding journalists and media personnel in conflict zones, emphasizing their status as civilians under international law.
UNIFIL’s investigation, supported by contributions from the Lebanese Armed Forces and eyewitness testimonies, corroborates an earlier Reuters investigation from December 7 revealing that seven journalists, including Abdallah, were struck by tank rounds fired from Israel. The journalists were filming cross-border shelling near the Lebanese village of Alma al-Chaab when they were killed.
