The journalists Support Committee condemns the crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces, represented by the direct targeting of media crews today in the Jezzine region – southern Lebanon, which resulted in the assassination of reporter and media Ali Shoaib from Al-Manar TV, reporter Fatima fatoni and photographer Mohammed fatoni, from Al-Mayadeen TV, while performing their professional duty in reporting the war on Lebanon.
This targeting constitutes a flagrant and serious violation of the provisions of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocol I of 1977, which clearly provide for the protection of journalists and media workers as civilians, as long as they do not participate directly in hostilities. This act is also a war crime according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which criminalizes the deliberate targeting of civilians, including media workers.
The committee emphasizes that the targeting of journalists in the performance of their duties is a systematic attempt to silence the truth and obscure violations, and directly undermines freedom of opinion and expression and the right of peoples to access information, rights guaranteed under international human rights law, in particular the International Covenant on civil and political rights.
Accordingly, the committee to support journalists calls for the following:
Open an independent and transparent international investigation into this crime and hold those responsible accountable before international justice.
Provide immediate protection to journalists and media crews working in conflict zones.
Urgent action by the United Nations and the relevant international institutions to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes do not go unpunished.
Put pressure on the occupation authorities to comply with international law and stop targeting civilians, including media workers.
Back to home page
