In Lebanon, Israel accused of “war crime” by Human Rights Watch after the death of three journalists in a strike

LEBANON – The strike targeted a tourist complex where a dozen journalists were staying. On October 25 in Hasbaya, in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army killed three journalists, while the Jewish state’s bombings in the country continue to cause massive destruction. Human Rights Watch described this Monday, November 25 as “ apparent war crime » this strike, adding that a bomb equipped with an American-made guidance kit had been used.

While journalists from Lebanese and Arab media were staying in the area, the Israeli army claimed that the attack targeted Hezbollah fighters and that it was “ under review ». But for the human rights NGO, it constitutes “ very likely a deliberate attack against civilians, and therefore an apparent war crime”.

Selon Human Rights Watch, « the Israeli army knew or should have known that journalists were staying in the area, and more specifically in the targeted building”. “HRW found no evidence of fighting, presence of military forces or military activity in this area at the time of the attack”she added in a press release.

The same observation was made by the Guardianwhose teams had gone to the site. Based on the British media’s findings, three international humanitarian law experts said the attack could constitute a war crime and called for further investigation. “It was clearly indicated that it was a place where journalists were staying”said Nadim Houry, a human rights lawyer and executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative.

The strike killed cameraman Ghassan Najjar and broadcast engineer Mohammad Reda of the pro-Iranian channel Al Mayadeen, as well as video journalist Wissam Qassem of the Hezbollah channel Al-Manar.

The bomb was equipped with an American system

The NGO indicates that it has authenticated images of the coffin of Ghassan Najjar, wrapped in a Hezbollah flag and buried in a cemetery alongside fighters from the pro-Iranian movement. This practice is a mark of honor for people who politically support the group, but does not indicate that the journalist occupied a political or military role within Hezbollah, specifies the Guardian. A Hezbollah spokesperson claimed that this cameraman had “not participated in any way in military activities”.

After examining the fragments found at the site of the attack, HRW concluded that the bomb used was equipped with a JDAM kit, a guidance system via satellite coordinates “ assembled and sold by the American company Boeing ». She adds that one fragment bore a code attributed to the American company Woodward, which “ manufactures components for munitions guidance systems, including the JDAM ». The NGO contacted Boeing and Woodward, but without response.

Under US law, if a country uses US-supplied weapons to commit a war crime, military assistance to that country must be suspended, the statement said. Guardian. Despite evidence of several instances where U.S. munitions were used by Israel to commit potential war crimes, U.S. military assistance to Israel has not changed.

Several Israeli attacks against journalists

In October 2023, an Israeli strike near the border with Israel killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and injured six other reporters, including two from Agence France Presse, Dylan Collins and photographer Christina Assi, an amputee. of the right leg. A month later, Israeli bombings killed Al-Mayadeen correspondent Farah Omar and cameraman Rabih Maamari, according to the channel.

Lebanese NGOs say five other journalists and photographers working for local media were killed in Israeli strikes in the south of the country and the southern suburbs of Beirut. Assassinating journalists is illegal under international law, regardless of their political affiliations, unless they are directly participating in military activities.

“This is a dangerous trend already seen in Gaza: journalists are linked to military operations because of their perceived affiliation or political leanings, then apparently become targets of attack. This is not compatible with international law”denounced Janina Dill, co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, to the Guardian.

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