Targeting journalists is a war crime, RSF recalls, after the death of three Lebanese journalists.

“Targeting journalists is a war crime”, stated Anne Bocandé, editorial director of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on Saturday the 28th of March, after the death of three Lebanese journalists in Lebanon due to an Israeli strike.

The three journalists were killed on Saturday by a strike that targeted their car in the region of Jezzine, in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army claimed to have killed Ali Shoeib, a long-time war correspondent for al-Manar, whom they describe as a member of the al-Radwan force, an elite unit of Hezbollah, operating “under the cover of a journalist”. Also killed were the journalist from al-Mayadeen, a channel close to Hezbollah, Fatima Ftouni, and her brother, the cameraman Mohammed Ftouni.

Since early March, “the working conditions for journalists in Lebanon have become increasingly difficult,” emphasized Anne Bocandé, who noted that “belligerents must protect journalists.” However, in Lebanon, several journalists have been “wounded” or faced “difficulties in accessing the field.” “Since 2023, five journalists have already been killed in Lebanon,” according to RSF.

“There are concerns that the region may become an impossible terrain for journalists,” warned Anne Bocandé, and eventually, “an area where full information cannot be obtained anymore.” The editorial director of Reporters Without Borders mentioned Gaza, “still closed to international press,” and in the West Bank, on Thursday, a team from the American channel CNN “detained for a few hours by the Israeli army”, while they were “doing their job.” “In Iran, there is almost complete blackout,” she added, lamenting “Gulf countries that restrict war coverage.” Reporters Without Borders “is sounding the alarm.”

“Where there are war zones, certain terrains become inaccessible,” insisted Anne Bocandé. “Crimes can be committed there with complete impunity, in the dark,” she added. Moreover, Anne Bocandé stated that RSF has already filed seven complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding cases of journalists killed by the Israeli army.