Lebanese PM accuses Israel of war crimes after strike kills journalist

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has strongly criticized Israel following the death of journalist Amal Khalil, accusing the country of committing war crimes. Amal Khalil was killed and her colleague, photographer Zeinab Faraj, was injured during Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters, referencing a senior Lebanese military official and Khalil’s employer, the Al-Akhbar newspaper. In a message on X, Salam stated, “Attacking journalists, preventing relief teams from reaching them, and targeting their locations again after these teams arrive are all considered war crimes. Israel's attacks on media personnel in the south while they perform their duties are no longer isolated events; they have become a repeated pattern that we denounce, along with all international laws and agreements.” The Lebanese Prime Minister expressed his condolences for Khalil’s death and promised to address the issue on international platforms. “Lebanon will do everything possible to hold accountable those responsible for these crimes in the appropriate international forums. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of the martyr Amal Khalil, her colleagues, friends, and the entire Lebanese media community. I also wish a quick recovery to journalist Zeinab Faraj,” he stated. Khalil and Faraj were near the town of al-Tayri when an Israeli strike hit a vehicle in front of them. They sought refuge in a nearby house, which was also hit in a following Israeli attack, according to reports from Lebanon’s health ministry, the senior military official, and press advocates. With Khalil's death at the age of 43, the total number of fatalities on Wednesday reached five, making it the deadliest day since the 10-day ceasefire was declared on April 16 to halt hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.