Centenary Congress: IFJ passes motion to hold Israel accountable for war crimes against journalists in Lebanon

Meeting in Paris from 4 to 7 May, the Congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) passed an urgent motion presented by the Union of Journalists in Lebanon to hold Israel accountable for war crimes against journalists and media workers in Lebanon.

Credit: Union of Journalists in Lebanon.

Whereas the systematic and deliberate Israeli attacks against journalists and media workers have not ceased in Lebanon since October 13, 2023, in blatant breach of international humanitarian law, of principles of press freedom and protection of media workers in times of armed conflict;

Whereas Israel assassinated Al-Akhbar journalist Amal Khalil on April 22, 2026, in what constitutes a war crime by the book, which was preceded by direct death threats, and during which Amal was surveilled, pursued, and repeatedly targeted. Furthermore, rescue and emergency teams were deliberately blocked and prevented from reaching her in time, which caused her death after denying her any chance of survival:

• Around 14:30, an Israeli drone targeted a civilian vehicle escorting colleagues Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj on the Tiri-Bint Jbeil road, killing two people inside.
• Urgent appeals were subsequently made to the Lebanese and International Red Cross, Civil Defense, the Lebanese Army, and UNIFIL forces to evacuate the two colleagues or secure a safe humanitarian corridor, but Israel refused to grant permission.
• Around 15:30, the drone returned to target the colleagues' vehicle as they attempted to take shelter outside it, causing them injuries and burns.
• Around 16:27, the house in which they had taken refuge was directly struck by a warplane.
• Approximately half an hour after the strike on the house, around 17:00, rescue teams were granted permission to enter. However, as they attempted to extract Zeinab Faraj from under the rubbles and search for Amal Khalil, they were targeted with a sonic bomb and direct gunfire, with some bullets hitting a Lebanese Red Cross vehicle, forcing them to withdraw and making it impossible to continue search and rescue operations.
• Rescue teams and the Lebanese Army remained blocked from accessing the area until around 20:00. The teams were only able to reach Amal Khalil's location and recover her body around 23:00, far too late to save her. According to the forensic report, Amal's death occurred at approximately 19:00 due to cardiac arrest and acute hemorrhage resulting from a blunt-force head injury.
• The testimony of the sole survivor, colleague Zeinab Faraj, confirms that an Israeli surveillance drone was flying overhead and descending repeatedly to verify they were still alive. She recounted: "We held our breath and pretended to be dead so they would not kill us." This constitutes clear evidence of deliberate surveillance, direct targeting, in knowledge of the identity of those being targeted.
• This crime was preceded by direct threats sent to Amal Khalil on her personal number from a number linked to Israeli intelligence, dated August 25, 2024, reading: "Is your house still standing, Miss Amal? We advise you to flee wherever you can if you wish to keep your head on your shoulders." Furthermore, Al-Akhbar newspaper received a direct threat on September 21, 2024, warning of targeting if Amal Khalil did not cease her media coverage, which establishes premeditation and deliberate intent.

And whereas, on March 28, 2026, an Israeli drone targeted a press team on the Kfar Houneh-Jezzine road in southern Lebanon, causing the death of Al-Manar channel correspondent Ali Shoeib, Al-Mayadeen correspondent Fatima Ftouni, and her brother, cameraman Mohammad Ftouni, in a crime openly claimed by the Israeli army;

And whereas, on March 18, 2026, Mohammad Cherri, director of political programs at Al-Manar, was killed along with his wife in an Israeli strike targeting their apartment in Zoqaq el-Blat neighborhood in central Beirut;

Whereas Morris Tidball-Binz, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, established in his statement - following his official visit to Lebanon on October 12, 2025 - that the deliberate killing of journalists constitutes a war crime;

And whereas, on April 2, 2026, Tidball-Binz, jointly with Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, called for an independent international investigation into the targeted killing of journalists; they urged Lebanon to document and preserve evidence, affirming that the deliberate killing of journalists constitutes a war crime and a serious violation of international law; they also stressed the need to ensure international accountability, bring an end to impunity, and guarantee the victims' families right to truth, justice and reparation;

Whereas the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions is expected to present his recommendations in his report to the Human Rights Council at its next session in June 2026;

And whereas, during the June 2026 session, the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group on Lebanon will also present recommendations to the Lebanese State regarding the protection of journalists and press freedom, including:

• Ensuring freedom of expression and protecting journalists from violence and intimidation (adopted by Ecuador and Sierra Leone)
• Adopting protection protocols in line with international standards and the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists (Bulgaria)
• Documenting war crimes and strengthening accountability mechanisms (Oman)
• Ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Latvia, Luxembourg, Ukraine) and referring crimes to the competent authorities (Colombia)

Whereas the Union of Journalists in Lebanon has been calling on the Lebanese State, since the beginning of the Israeli attacks against journalists in October 2023, to officially document war crimes, open serious judicial investigations, and request the establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry, either through the Human Rights Council or the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; the Union urges the Lebanese State to accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court pursuant to Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, in order to investigate crimes on Lebanese territory since October 2023;

Whereas these demands continue to be neglected and postponed by the Lebanese authorities, amid global silence, which increases the risks faced by journalists, hinders their freedom of action and the people's right to information, it also enshrines impunity and undermines the right of victims and their families to truth and justice;

The Congress of the International Federation of Journalists resolves to:

I. Request the IFJ Executive Committee to address a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, at its June 2026 session, to:

• Assign an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into the killing of journalists and media workers in Lebanon from October 13, 2023 until the end of hostilities.
• Grant this commission the necessary powers to collect evidence, hear witnesses and survivors, and legally document violations, for subsequent judicial proceedings.
• Submit periodic and transparent reports presenting the findings of these investigations to UN bodies and international public opinion.

II. Request the IFJ Executive Committee to address, in coordination with UJLeb, a letter to the Lebanese authorities, inviting them to:

• Conduct official and transparent investigations into the killing of journalists, as a crucial step enabling journalists and their families to exercise their legal rights.
• Access the records of crimes against journalists since October 2023, and monitor the progress of official investigations or judicial proceedings.

III. Call on IFJ-affiliated unions and associations to:

• Support the Union of Journalists in Lebanon in its legal endeavors aimed at prosecuting the perpetrators of crimes against journalists before the national courts of states applying the principle of universal jurisdiction, regardless of where the crime was committed or the nationality of the suspects.
• Pressure their governments to take a clear stance and adopt concrete measures to fight impunity, including by supporting the establishment of an independent and impartial international commission of inquiry into war crimes committed against journalists before the Human Rights Council.

List of previous cases of Israeli targeting of journalists in Lebanon since October 2023:

• October 13, 2023: Photographer Issam Abdallah was killed by a direct Israeli strike while performing his journalistic work in Alma El-Chaab, near Lebanon's southern border. Six other journalists were wounded, including AFP and Al Jazeera reporters, among them photographer Christina Assi, who lost her right leg consequently. This attack was documented by more than nine in-depth investigations conducted by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reuters (first and second reports), AFP, and UN reports (UNIFIL and communications from special rapporteurs). All confirmed that the journalists were visible to Israeli drones, helicopters, and observation towers, and that there had been no exchange of fire for more than 40 minutes before they were targeted by two tank shells and machine-gun fire.
• November 21, 2023: Al-Mayadeen correspondent Farah Omar, photographer Rabih al-Maamary, and their local guide Hussein Aqil were killed by a direct Israeli strike targeting their press team in Tayr Harfa, southern Lebanon.
• October 25, 2024: Al-Manar camera operator Wissam Qassem, Al-Mayadeen camera operator Ghassan Najjar, and broadcast engineer Mohammad Reda were killed in their sleep by an Israeli raid targeting their location in Hasbaya, where several press teams were staying (Human Rights Watch, The Guardian).