Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the Israeli killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in a strike in southern Lebanon, describing it as an apparent war crime and calling for an urgent international investigation.
In separate publications, the two organizations said the April attack that killed Khalil while she was reporting constituted a direct strike on a civilian, noting that available evidence indicates she was clearly identifiable as a journalist at the time.
The groups said the attack, which also seriously wounded photographer Zeinab Faraj, raises serious concerns of deliberate targeting, particularly as the journalists’ presence had been communicated through international channels and the area was under surveillance.
Human Rights Watch described the killing as an “apparent war crime,” while Amnesty International stressed that the incident must be investigated as a war crime and those responsible held accountable.
HRW said the Israeli strikes “included apparently deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, which would make them war crimes”.
On April 22, 2026, Israeli military attacks in Lebanon killed journalist Amal Khalil and severely wounded journalist Zainab Faraj.
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) August 6, 2026
The evidence indicates that the Israeli military knew or should have known that Khalil and Faraj were civilians, but subsequently targeted them,… pic.twitter.com/2a4el6YreG
Amnesty decried a “direct attack on civilians which should be investigated as a war crime”.
Both groups said the Israeli army “knew or should have known” that the pair were civilians, noting Israeli drones were present at the attack site.
Both organizations also highlighted that rescue efforts were obstructed for hours following the strike, delaying medical assistance and potentially contributing to Khalil’s death.
The rights groups warned that the killing fits a broader pattern of attacks on journalists in conflict zones, calling for accountability measures, including international investigations and possible sanctions.
Khalil was a veteran correspondent for Al-Akhbar and had consistently reported from south Lebanon even before 2023
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, “15 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israel” in Lebanon since October 2023.
Source: Al-Manar English Website