United Nations experts have demanded an independent probe into Israeli killing of journalists, following the deaths of three Lebanese media workers in a targeted strike in southern Lebanon.
This call comes after Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks on a vehicle carrying journalists on 28 March in Jezzine, in Lebanon, while they were on a reporting assignment.
UN experts, Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, alongside Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, described the targeted killing as another egregious attack on press freedom by Israeli forces.
“We denounce strongly what has now become a standard, dangerous practice of Israel to target and kill journalists and then claim, without providing any credible evidence, that they were involved with armed groups.”
UN Special Rapporteurs
The victims, Ali Shoeib of Al Manar TV, alongside Fatima Ftouni and cameraman Mohamed Ftouni of Al Mayadeen were killed when their car was struck in what has been described as a series of targeted strikes, while on a reporting assignment. “Journalists carrying out their professional duties in armed conflict are civilians and must not be targeted or made the object of attack,” the experts said. “The deliberate killing of journalists not directly participating in hostilities constitutes a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law and a war crime.”
They added that the only “evidence” produced by the Israeli forces so far to support their allegations is what they themselves admit is a photoshopped image of Ali Shoeib a blatant demonstration of their disdain for international law.
The experts further stressed that reporting as a journalist for a media outlet linked to an armed group or disseminating propaganda does not amount, in itself, to direct participation in hostilities under international humanitarian law. “Israeli officials know this, yet they choose to ignore it emboldened by impunity for their previous killings of journalists in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank,” they said.
“The targeted killing of journalists is an abominable push by Israel to silence reporting on Israel’s current military action in Lebanon, and shut down news coverage of war crimes committed, just as it did in Gaza.”
UN Special Rapporteurs
Global Media Freedom Under Strain
According to the experts, at least 259 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israel since 2023, including 210 Palestinian journalists in Gaza and 14 journalists in Lebanon.
Of those deaths, at least 64 are reported to appear to have involved direct targeting, raising serious concerns about the conduct of hostilities and the protection of media personnel in conflict zones.
Moreover, the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, has issued a strong warning to states that advocate for media freedom globally, stating that silence in the face of such killings undermines international commitments to protect journalists. They urged governments to apply pressure on Israel to halt what they described as smear campaigns and targeted attacks against journalists operating in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory.
They further called on the government of Lebanon to document and preserve evidence and to invite an independent, international investigation into the killing of Lebanese journalists by Israel.
“We stand ready to offer our support and assistance within the scope of our mandates. Independent international investigations and accountability mechanisms should be used as tools to bring an end to impunity for crimes against journalists and to guarantee the right of their families to truth, justice and reparation.”
UN Special Rapporteurs
The UN Special Rapporteurs indicated that, Israel’s targeted killings and smear campaigns against journalists must be stopped, warning that such actions carry wide-ranging implications for press freedom, civilian protection, and the integrity of information in conflict zones.
They added that continued attacks on journalists risk undermining internationally recognised safeguards that classify media workers as civilians, exposing them to greater danger while performing their duties. This pattern not only threatens individual lives but also weakens the ability of the press to operate independently in areas affected by conflict.
Journalists targeted or publicly discredited, discourages reporting from high-risk environments, reducing the presence of independent observers on the ground. This, in turn, limits the availability of verified information and increases the likelihood of misinformation spreading unchecked.
In view of that, sustained pressure from the international community, along with independent investigations, is necessary to deter further violations and reinforce protections for journalists operating in conflict-affected regions.
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