7-3-2024 (BEIRUT) In a damning report published on Thursday, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) revealed that an Israeli tank crew deliberately targeted journalists, resulting in the death of Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah in Lebanon last October. The investigation, contracted by Reuters, indicated that the tank, located 1.34 km away in Israel, fired two shells at a clearly identified group of journalists, killing Abdallah and severely injuring Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi.
The TNO report, based on evidence from the October 13 attack, highlighted that the tank likely continued its assault by opening fire with a heavy machine gun, although this aspect couldn’t be confirmed with certainty. The incident lasted for 1 minute and 45 seconds. The journalists, including seven wearing identifiable press gear, were filming cross-border shelling from a distance on a hill near the Lebanese village of Alma al-Chaab.
Despite the tank crew’s actions, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) remained silent on the issue, not responding to requests for comment. International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on journalists, considering them civilians with full protection rights. Both Reuters and AFP reiterated their calls for a thorough and transparent investigation by the Israeli military.
The TNO analysis pointed out that the journalists were clearly marked as press, wearing blue flak jackets and helmets with “PRESS” written on them. The report emphasized the deliberate nature of the attack and raised concerns about the intentional targeting of journalists. The incident took place in an active combat zone, according to the IDF, a claim contested by media organizations and human rights advocates.
The TNO report’s findings further intensify the demand for accountability and transparency regarding the Israeli tank crew’s actions, which resulted in the tragic death of a journalist and injuries to others.
