ALMA Al-SHAAB, Lebanon (AP) – An Israeli shell landed in a gathering of worldwide journalists overlaying clashes on the border in south Lebanon on Friday, killing a Reuters videographer and leaving six different journalists injured.
An Related Press photographer on the scene noticed the physique of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and the six who had been wounded, a few of whom had been rushed to hospitals in ambulances. Photographs from the scene confirmed a charred automotive.
“We’re deeply saddened to let you know that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed,” the Reuters information company stated in a press release. The company added that Abdallah was a part of a Reuters crew in southern Lebanon that was offering a dwell sign.
Reuters stated that two of its journalists, Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, had been wounded within the shelling within the border space.
Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV, stated two of its staff, Elie Brakhya and reporter Carmen Joukhadar, additionally had been among the many wounded.
France’s worldwide information company, Agence France-Presse, stated two of its journalists additionally had been among the many wounded, however the company didn’t launch their names.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a press release condemned Israel’s shelling that struck the journalists “throughout its aggression on southern Lebanon.”
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric referred to as the deaths “one other instance of the day by day risks journalists face in overlaying battle all through the world” and stated the world physique hopes for an investigation into what occurred.
“Journalists must be protected and allowed to do their work,” he stated at a briefing at U.N. headquarters.
Later Friday, dozens of Lebanon-based journalists and rights activists gathered exterior the Nationwide Museum in Beirut to grieve over Abdallah’s demise and the damage of the journalists.
“We’re urgently looking for extra data, working with authorities within the area, and supporting Issam’s household and colleagues,” Reuters stated. “Our deepest condolences exit to these affected, and our ideas are with their households at this horrible time.”
The shelling occurred throughout an trade of fireplace alongside the Lebanon-Israel border between Israeli troops and members of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group.
The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing sporadic acts of violence since Saturday’s assault by the militant Palestinian group Hamas on southern Israel.
Journalists from all over the world have been coming to Lebanon out of concern that warfare would possibly escape between Hezbollah and Israel.
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Related Press author Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report from the United Nations.
