Rights Groups Accuse Israel of War Crime in Journalist's Death

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and The Legal Agenda accused the Government of Israel on Thursday of committing a war crime by intentionally targeting journalist Amal Khalil. Khalil, a reporter for Al-Akhbar, was killed on April 22 in the village of Al-Tiri during strikes conducted shortly after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The rights groups concluded that Israeli forces were aware that Khalil and her colleague, Zeinab Faraj, were civilians, citing the presence of drones at the site. The investigation further alleges that the Israeli army obstructed Lebanese Red Cross paramedics from reaching Khalil while she was still alive, which contributed to her death from head trauma and bleeding hours later.

The Israeli military denied preventing rescue efforts and stated the strikes targeted a vehicle and structure used by Hezbollah. While expressing regret for harm caused to journalists, the military maintained that the operation targeted militant assets.