Sky News presenter Yalda Hakim paused the show to share a heartbreaking update after the body of a journalist was found after an Israeli strike. She opened up the segment and said: “A Lebanese military official has said the body of a Lebanese journalist who was injured in an Israeli strike has been found under the rubble in southern Lebanon. Reporter Diana Magnay also joined to provide an update as she said: “This is Amal Khalil, she and another journalist colleague who was working with her were inside Lebanese-occupied territory.”
It was explained that they were in a two-vehicle convoy, but she continued: “According to the IDF, they had left what the IDF deems to have been a military building and had gone in two cars deeper into the town.” She explained how the reporter and her colleague tried to take cover in a nearby house, but there was an air strike on the property.
The rescue team that attempted to go there were denied access due to “live fire” coming at them, the reporter said. However, she stated that the IDF have claimed that they did not block access. When they were able to get in, they attempted to get Amal from underneath the rubble, but she sadly died.
Her colleague, Zeinab Faraj, suffered serious head injuries. The reporter continued: “This brings the total number of journalists killed here in Lebanon since October 7 2023 up to 15. Israel does not have a good track record in targeting journalists.”
Following the news, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said: “Targeting journalists, obstructing access to them by relief teams, and even targeting their locations again after these teams arrive constitutes described war crimes.”
He accused Israel of repeatedly targeting media workers in what he described as “an established approach”. In a statement, the IDF said it “does not target journalists and acts to mitigate harm to them while maintaining the safety and security of its troops”.
The Lebanese health ministry claimed the IDF “pursued” the two journalists “who had taken refuge from the first raid in a nearby house, targeting the house where they had sought shelter”.
Clayton Weimer, the executive director of Reporters Without Borders, said: “The Red Cross signalled they were unable to get through because of ongoing Israeli bombardment. So that is callous disregard, on top of what appears to be a deliberate and targeted killing of a journalist.”
