GENEVA - The targeted killing of three Lebanese journalists constitutes another egregious attack on press freedom by Israeli forces and must be promptly, fully and independently investigated by an international body, UN experts* said today.
"We denounce strongly what has now become a standard, dangerous practice of Israel to target and kill journalists and then claim, without providing any credible evidence, that they were involved with armed groups," the experts said.
On 28 March, Israeli forces killed Al Manar TV reporter Ali Shoeib, and Al Mayadeen reporter Fatima Ftouni and cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, in a series of targeted strikes on their car as they drove through Jezzine in Lebanon, while on a reporting assignment.
"Journalists carrying out their professional duties in armed conflict are civilians and must not be targeted or made the object of attack," the experts said. "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 only 'evidence' produced by the Israeli forces so far to support their allegations is what they themselves admit is a photoshopped image of Ali Shoeib - a blatant demonstration of their disdain for international law," they said.
The experts stressed that reporting as a journalist for a media outlet linked to an armed group or disseminating propaganda does not amount, in itself, to direct participation in hostilities under international humanitarian law. "Israeli officials know this, yet they choose to ignore it - emboldened by impunity for their previous killings of journalists in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank."
"The targeted killing of journalists is an abominable push by Israel to silence reporting on Israel's current military action in Lebanon, and shut down news coverage of war crimes committed, just as it did in Gaza."
At least 259 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israel since 2023, including 210 Palestinian journalists in Gaza and 14 journalists in Lebanon. At least 64 of them appear to have been directly targeted.
"States that champion media freedom globally cannot remain silent and must pressure Israel to cease the smear campaigns and targeted killings of journalists in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory," the experts said.
They called on the government of Lebanon to document and preserve evidence and to invite an independent, international investigation into the killing of Lebanese journalists by Israel.
"We stand ready to offer our support and assistance within the scope of our mandates," the experts said. "Independent international investigations and accountability mechanisms should be used as tools to bring an end to impunity for crimes against journalists and to guarantee the right of their families to truth, justice and reparation."
"Israel's targeted killings and smear campaigns against journalists must be stopped," they said.
The experts are in contact with the Government of Israel on this matter.
