Israeli response
The Israeli army claimed at the time that it had targeted a vehicle that had departed from a Hezbollah military facility and later struck the building where those inside the vehicle had sought refuge.
It denied preventing rescue teams from reaching the site.
Amnesty said the Israeli military told the organisation the incident had undergone a preliminary review and that “relevant lessons were implemented accordingly,” adding that it “regrets any harm caused to journalists.”
Israel killed 15 journalists in Lebanon since 2023
Khalil was a veteran correspondent who had covered southern Lebanon throughout cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 15 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israel in Lebanon since October 2023.
Among them was Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike in October 2023 that also wounded six other journalists, including AFP’s Dylan Collins and Christina Assi, who later underwent a leg amputation.
Amnesty’s regional director, Heba Morayef, said the continued lack of accountability for attacks on journalists and civilians had enabled further unlawful strikes, including direct attacks on civilians.
Related
