Beirut – 28 March 2026
The Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) strongly condemns the targeting of a number of journalists and media workers today on the Jezzine road in southern Lebanon, in an incident that represents a highly dangerous escalation and directly undermines the protection of civilians, particularly those working in the media during armed conflicts.
This attack resulted in the killing of journalists Fatima Ftouni, correspondent for Al Mayadeen TV, and Ali Shoeib, correspondent for Al-Manar TV and Radio Al-Nour, while they were carrying out their professional duties covering field developments.
According to available information, the targeted journalists were performing their professional work, which grants them civilian status protected under the rules of international humanitarian law, as long as they do not take direct part in hostilities.
The targeting of journalists constitutes a clear violation of the provisions of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, particularly those related to the protection of civilians in armed conflicts. Article 79 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I further affirms that journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered civilians and must be protected as such.
Accordingly, any direct or indiscriminate targeting of journalists constitutes a breach of the principles of distinction and proportionality, which are fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, and may amount to a war crime if it is proven that the attack was intentional or carried out with gross negligence in verifying the nature of the target.
This incident represents not only an attack on individuals, but also an assault on the freedom to convey the truth and an attempt to restrict access to information in the context of armed conflicts, thereby increasing the risk of impunity and weakening international accountability mechanisms.
The association calls for:
An immediate, independent, and transparent investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and those responsible;
Ensuring accountability in accordance with international law;
Taking urgent measures to guarantee the protection of journalists and media workers in conflict zones;
Urging the international community, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, to follow up on these violations and ensure their non-recurrence.
The Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness)