Lebanese journalist Issam Abdallah was murdered in an attack by Israeli tank

On the picture: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) General Secretary Anthony Bellanger speaks during a joint press conference with the head of the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate Abu Bakr and Spanish MEP Manu Pineda (both not in picture) on the Israeli attacks in Gaza and the killings of journalists at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, 06 December 2023. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

Since the terrorist Palestinian organization Hamas began its unprecedented onslaught on Israel on October 7 and Israel declared war on the group, starting attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip, the Israel-Gaza conflict has incurred heavy casualties among journalists. 

According to a Reuters' special investigation, six reporters were injured and one journalist was murdered on October 13 in Lebanon by an Israeli tank crew that fired two rounds in rapid succession from Israel while the reporters were recording shelling across the border.

Just over one kilometer from the Israeli border, close to the Lebanese town of Alma al-Chaab, two bombs killed 37-year-old Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah and seriously injured 28-year-old Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi.

More than 30 government and security officials, military specialists, forensic investigators, attorneys, medics, and witnesses were interviewed by Reuters to provide a comprehensive narrative of the event. Hours of video from eight local news stations, together with hundreds of still photographs from both before and after the incident, including high-resolution satellite imagery, were evaluated by the news agency.

Reuters collected and retrieved evidence from the area as part of its inquiry. This evidence included shell casings on the ground and in a Reuters vehicle, three flak jackets, a camera, a tripod, and a big metal object. 

BGNES reminds since the beginning of the war in Gaza over 60 journalists have been killed, marking an unprecedented record:

As of December 7:

• 63 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead: 56 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese.
• 11 journalists were reported injured.
• 3 journalists were reported missing.
• 19 journalists were reported arrested.
• Multiple assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship, and killings of family members.
  
  *Source: CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists)

/BGNES