Confirms Their Journalist Issam Abdallad Was Killed By "Israeli Tank Crew"
Reuters confirmed that the killing of their journalist Issam Abdallah was committed by the Israeli tank crew. After thorough investigation, the news agency has published a detailed report on the incidents that happened. Taking to X (formerly twitter), Editor-in-Chief of Reuters, Alessandra Galloni gave a video statement in which she confirmed Issam Abdallah was killed by Israeli tank crew.
“We condemn Issam’s killing. We call on Israel to explain how this could have happened”. She also demanded Israel to hold to account those who are responsible for the killing of Mr. Abdallah and wounding two other journalists, Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh.
Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni gives statement on Reuters investigation of the killing of video journalist Issam Abdallah pic.twitter.com/MOnubAPzkr
— Reuters Press Team (@ReutersPR) December 7, 2023
Issam Abdallah was killed on October 13th, at the southern Lebanon while he was covering live reports of the Hamas-Israel war. Initial reports suggested he was killed as he was caught up in a cross-border shelling. He was accompanied by six other journalists including those from AFP and Al Jazeera.
In the latest report published by Reuters, the news agency said Issam Abdallah was killed by Israeli tank crew as the occupation force fired “two shells in quick succession from Israel while the journalists were filming cross-border shelling”.
The report was published after consulting with more than 30 government and security officials, military experts, forensic investigators, lawyers, by examining the shrapnel obtained form the ground that was embedded into one of Reuter’s car and few other materials.
Richard Hecht, international spokesperson of IDF gave a vague comment, “we don’t target journalists”, no further explanation was given.
Apart from Reuters, Human Right Watch also published the report about Israeli shelling killing the journalist. Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, Ramzi Kaiss said, “this is not the first time that Israeli forces have apparently deliberately attacked journalists, with deadly and devastating results. Those responsible need to be held to account, and it needs to be made clear that journalists and other civilians are not lawful targets”, as quoted by HMW.
Amnesty International also provided investigation report suggesting the killing of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was the result of Israeli strikes on the group. The Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa of Amnesty International, Aya Majzoub said, “Israel must not be allowed to kill and attack journalist with impunity. There must be an independent and impartial investigation into this deadly attack”, as quoted by Amnesty International.
As per report from Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), as of December 7th, 63 Journalists and media workers were confirmed to be dead, 56 Palestinians, 4 Israelis and 3 Lebanese. A total of 11 journalists were injured, 3 went missing and 19 journalists were arrested by the Israeli occupation force.
