ISTANBUL – An Israeli strike on Lebanon killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil while she was carrying out her duty, the Red Cross said on Wednesday, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing the state news agency.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported earlier in the day that “Israeli occupation forces are besieging journalists Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj, and preventing the Red Cross and the Lebanese army from reaching them.”
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said early on Thursday that Israel’s targeting of journalists constitutes “war crimes,” condemning what he described as a systematic pattern of attacks in southern Lebanon.
Salam said that targeting journalists, obstructing rescue teams from reaching them, and striking the same locations again after their arrival constitutes “clear war crimes.”
He added that attacks on journalists in southern Lebanon while they are carrying out their professional duties are no longer isolated incidents but have become a “documented pattern” that violates international law and norms.
“Lebanon will spare no effort in pursuing these crimes before the relevant international bodies,” he said.
According to Anadolu Ajansi, Faraj was rescued with injuries and transferred to a hospital and is reportedly in stable condition after undergoing head surgery. She also reportedly suffered a fractured leg.
More than 2,200 people have been killed and over 1 million displaced by expanded Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, shortly after the start of the Iran war.
Attacks have continued despite a 10-day US-mediated ceasefire agreed on April 16. – BERNAMA-ANADOLU
