Journalists, including Collins and Abdallah had came under Israeli tank, machine gun fire near Israeli-Lebanese border
\n Washington
\nTwelve US lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint, have called on President Joe Biden to launch an independent investigation into an Israeli attack that killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six others, including American journalist Dylan Collins, during a reporting assignment in southern Lebanon on October 13, 2023.
\nThis incident, which involved an Israeli tank firing on a group of journalists clearly marked as press, has raised significant concerns about the treatment of journalists in conflict zones and the accountability of military forces.
\nIncident involved group of journalists, including Collins and Abdallah, covering the conflict near the Israeli-Lebanese border, approximately one mile from the nearest active conflict zone, when the Israeli military fired two tank shells, followed by heavy machine gun fire.
\nThe attack resulted in the death of Abdallah and serious injuries to Collins, who sustained shrapnel wounds to his face, arms, and back while trying to help a colleague.
\nAnother journalist, Christina Assi, lost her right leg due to the attack.
\nCollins and his colleagues were identifiable as members of the press, wearing vests marked \u201cPress\u201d and standing next to a vehicle labeled \u201cTV\u201d when the attack occurred.
\nThe incident was documented by multiple news organizations, leading to widespread condemnation and demands for accountability.
\nIn a letter addressed to Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Attorney General Merrick Garland, the lawmakers expressed their frustration over the lack of accountability surrounding the incident.
\nThey criticized the State Department\u2019s previous response, which indicated that Israel was conducting its own investigation.
\nThe lawmakers argued that this approach was insufficient given Israel\u2019s historical failure to investigate or hold accountable military actions that resulted in the harm of journalists.
\nThe lawmakers stated, \u201cGiven this track record of inaction and impunity, the US government must act to ensure accountability for attacks on its citizens.\u201d
\nThey emphasized the need for a transparent and impartial investigation led by the Department of Justice, asserting that the evidence points to an unlawful direct attack on civilians.
\nWhile Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that an investigation was initiated into the attack, the lawmakers noted that no witnesses had been contacted, and no updates had been provided.
\nThey expressed skepticism regarding Israel\u2019s commitment to transparency, highlighting a long-standing pattern of disregard for the safety of journalists and civilians in conflict situations.
\nThis incident is part of a broader concern about the treatment of journalists in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon.
\nSince the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported multiple cases of targeted attacks against media personnel, leading to numerous fatalities. I
\nIn the aftermath of the October 13 attack, four other journalists were also killed, raising alarms about the dangers faced by those covering the conflict.
\nThe attack on Collins and his colleagues underscores the precarious situation for journalists working in conflict zones. Reports indicate that at least 128 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the conflict, with 126 deaths attributed to Israeli fire.
\nThe CPJ has documented a troubling pattern of impunity, as Israel has failed to hold its military accountable for the deaths of journalists over the past two decades.
\nThe situation has been exacerbated by the destruction of media infrastructure and limitations on access to Gaza for foreign journalists, further complicating the landscape for press freedom.
\nThe CPJ noted that a culture of impunity has developed, where threats against journalists often go uninvestigated, contributing to an environment of fear and censorship.
\nThe lawmakers\u2019 call for an independent investigation is part of a broader push for accountability and justice for journalists worldwide.
\nTheir letter highlights the United States\u2019 role in advocating for human rights and press freedom, particularly in conflict zones where journalists face significant risks.
\nThe investigation comes at a time when Israeli narrative has been propogated by Western media outlets like CNN who is facing backlash over an article about the mental health of Israeli soldiers who allegedly ran over Palestinians with bulldozers during their service in Gaza.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Journalists, including Collins and Abdallah had came under Israeli tank, machine gun fire near Israeli-Lebanese border Washington Twelve US lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint, have called on President Joe Biden to launch an independent investigation into an Israeli attack that killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":439112,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-439092","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n