Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Legal Agenda have concluded that an Israeli strike killing Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in southern Lebanon on 22 April constitutes a war crime, saying evidence indicates Israeli forces knew or should have known the women were civilians.
Khalil, a 42-year-old reporter for al-Akhbar, and Zeinab Faraj, a 21-year-old freelance camerawoman, were covering the conflict in al-Tiri when three successive strikes hit a vehicle ahead of them, their own car, and the building where they sheltered. Israeli quadcopter drones appeared to track the journalists before the attacks. The Israeli military denied targeting journalists, saying strikes were aimed at Hezbollah operatives, but delayed rescue crews for hours. Khalil died around 19:00, likely from cardiac arrest.
The rights groups called for arms embargoes and sanctions against Israeli officials. Israel has killed at least 15 journalists in Lebanon since 2023.