Human Rights Watch: "Dokazi kažu da je izraelska vojska više puta ciljala novinare..."

Rights groups have accused Israel of committing a potential war crime following an attack in southern Lebanon that killed journalist Amal Khalil and seriously injured freelance camera operator Zeinab Faraj. According to reports from Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, the journalists were targeted while reporting in the town of al-Tiri on 22 April. Both organizations have called for an independent investigation into the incident and urged Lebanon to accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. The Israeli military denied targeting the journalists, stating that the three strikes conducted by its forces were aimed at two operatives of the armed group Hezbollah. However, HRW’s Lebanon researcher, Ramzi Kaiss, argued that the facts and evidence contradict this claim. He noted that the Israeli military has repeatedly targeted journalists, with Khalil and Faraj being the latest victims in a long series of such incidents. HRW reconstructed the sequence of events based on photo and video evidence, witness testimonies from Faraj and first responders, media reports, and a message from the Lebanese Red Cross to the Israeli military. According to the organization, the first Israeli strike hit a car driving in front of the two female journalists at approximately 14:30 local time, killing two men they knew, Ali Bazzi and Mohammed al-Hourani. This forced Khalil and Faraj to abandon their vehicle and seek refuge near a neighboring building. They contacted the Lebanese Red Cross for assistance, and at 15:00, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (Unifil) sent the Israeli military a request from the Lebanese Red Cross to access the site and rescue them. A second strike occurred between 15:21 and 15:42, hitting the journalists’ parked car and injuring Khalil. She and Faraj then took shelter inside the building, which was subsequently destroyed by a third strike at about 16:25. Israeli quadcopter drones were observed monitoring the journalists throughout the attack, hovering dangerously close to them. Zeinab Faraj described the experience of being monitored by the drones, noting how they provoked constant fear. “The drones got extremely close, coming through the broken roof. Less than a meter away,” she recounted. “I was covering my face, thinking of a video I had seen where a drone killed someone like that. I thought it would explode in my face.” Phone records indicate that Khalil remained in contact with first responders and her family as the attacks unfolded. A Lebanese Red Cross team entered the town after 17:00, but when paramedics began rescue efforts, they came under fire from a drone-delivered stun grenade and were forced to retreat without recovering Khalil. Witnesses told HRW that photographs showed damage to the Lebanese Red Cross ambulance consistent with small-arms fire. According to a report from Tebnin Governmental Hospital, Khalil was likely still alive when the paramedics withdrew from the site at around 17:53. The report stated that Khalil died around 19:00 due to cardiac arrest and had suffered a head injury causing severe bleeding. Her body was eventually recovered by rescue workers at around 23:00. The Israeli military stated that the strikes forming part of a series of events in which two Hezbollah operatives were killed, expressing regret over any harm caused to journalists. It mentioned that the incident was under internal review but did not address follow-up questions regarding the purpose of the second and third strikes. Both HRW and Amnesty International emphasized that the evidence indicates Israeli forces “knew or should have known” that the women were civilians. Deliberate attacks on civilians are prohibited under international humanitarian law. “There can be no justification for targeting civilians who sought shelter in search of safety,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty’s Middle East director. The Israeli military has faced similar accusations for the deaths of journalists during the conflict in Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has criticized Israel for its “long-standing, documented practice” of accusing journalists of terrorism without providing credible evidence. The incident has reignited discussions about the protection of journalists in conflict zones and the accountability of military actions. As the situation continues to unfold, the calls for an independent investigation remain strong, with both HRW and Amnesty International urging for justice and adherence to international humanitarian laws.