The "Alternative Press Syndicate" has called upon the international emergency forces operating in southern Lebanon, "UNIFIL," to conduct a detailed investigation into the targeting of journalists last month. During a press conference held by the syndicate titled "To Prevent the Perpetrator from Escaping Punishment, What Path for Investigation and Accountability?" at the Al-Safir newspaper building in Hamra, the event marked one month since the martyrdom of Reuters photographer colleague Issam Abdullah and the injury of six other colleagues due to direct Israeli targeting of press teams covering the escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border in Alama Al-Shaab on October 13, 2023.
Wissam Sarour emphasized that "the humanitarian entrance to hold the enemy accountable for its crimes is for media institutions to name the killing party explicitly rather than obscure the perpetrator as a prelude to diluting the issue or allowing the criminal to escape punishment." He added, "Accountability is inevitable, especially after the families of the enemy's victims have started filing personal and collective lawsuits in local and international courts," urging journalism unions and human rights groups to file lawsuits in international courts.
Al Jazeera correspondent Carmen Joukhadar, who was injured in the attack, stated that "the truth is known but must be established, and we are responsible for documenting this phase with all its violations and Israel's practices, as there will come a day when they will be punished." She considered that "there is a decision to prevent journalists from moving or conveying the truth and reality. Yesterday, journalists were photographing civilian homes that were bombed during these clashes, but Israel does not want the world to see that it is bombing civilian homes to continue its propaganda denying these crimes."
Regarding the legal pathway, lawyer Farouk Al-Maghrabi noted that correspondence had been sent to the UN special rapporteurs, and consent forms had been secured from the injured journalists for Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan to begin work on the case. The "Alternative Syndicate" also wrote to UNIFIL forces, requesting an investigation into the crime and clarifying the source of gunfire on colleagues, as their original statement did not disclose who fired, stating, "But we have not received any response from them." They pointed out that the syndicate is "in the process of writing to UNESCO and the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the crime, following the publication of independent investigations into the case to include it in the correspondence with testimonies and evidence indicating that this crime amounts to a war crime."
The "Alternative Syndicate" stated: "The two joint letters have collected over 100 signatures, including direct victims, 16 media outlets, 8 syndicates and media clubs, 14 ministers and deputies, and 59 associations and organizations so far." Meanwhile, Jonathan Dager, head of the Middle East and North Africa desk at "Reporters Without Borders," pointed out the deliberate targeting of media by Israeli forces in Gaza, not only through bombing but also by forcing them to evacuate their homes and the terror journalists live under, in addition to the siege on Gaza and the prevention of essential supplies, alongside a campaign inciting against journalists in Israeli media.
In conclusion, Elsy Mfarraj, coordinator of the Alternative Press Syndicate, delivered a statement underscoring that "the targeting of journalists and the killing of colleague Issam Abdullah is a well-documented war crime committed by the occupation against press teams in Lebanon, as is happening every moment in southern Lebanon and Gaza." She stated: "UNIFIL forces are required to assume their responsibilities within the framework of their mandate under Resolution 1701 and conduct a detailed investigation into the crime and determine how our colleagues were targeted and how Issam fell as a martyr. They are also required to have the moral courage at least to name the killer. To name that Israel killed Issam Abdullah. They must also investigate the targeting of a convoy of over 10 press teams yesterday in Yaron." Furthermore, she added, "The Lebanese army is also required to publish its technical investigation into the crime, as this investigation helps institutions and organizations conducting extensive investigations to determine the nature of the weapon used and if it was from the ground or from the air or both, as well as to identify the nature of the reconnaissance aircraft that violated Lebanese sovereignty at the time and were flying over journalists before targeting them."
