Portal journalist Issam Abdallah films Ukrainian Zhanna Lishchynska (not pictured) during an interview with Portal, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, April 17, 2022. Portal/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo acquire LICENSE RIGHTS
PARIS, Oct 29 (Portal) – Portal Visuals journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in southern Lebanon on Oct. 13 in a “targeted” attack from the direction of the Israeli border, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Sunday, based on preliminary findings with his investigation.
“According to the ballistic analysis carried out by RSF, the shots came from the east of the journalists’ location, that is, from the direction of the Israeli border,” RSF said.
“Two hits at the same location in such a short time (just over 30 seconds) from the same direction clearly indicate precise target acquisition.”
The RSF report did not address the question of who launched the strike against the journalists or provide any underlying analysis.
The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the RSF’s findings. It said it was not specifically targeting journalists and was investigating the Oct. 13 incident.
In a statement, Portal said: “We are reviewing the preliminary conclusion of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which found that Issam Abdallah and other journalists in Alma el-Chaab appeared to have been deliberately targeted by Israeli fire on October 13th.
“We reiterate our call on the Israeli authorities to conduct a rapid, thorough and transparent investigation into what happened. And we urge any other authorities with information about the incident to provide it. We will continue to fight for the right of all journalists to report news in the public interest without harassment or harm, wherever they are.”
Abdallah was killed on October 13 while working with six other journalists near the village of Alma al-Shaab near the Israeli border, where the Israeli military and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia exchanged fire.
RSF said its preliminary findings were based on a “thorough analysis of eyewitness accounts, video footage and ballistics expertise.” The investigation continues, the report continues.
“It is unlikely that the journalists were mistaken for combatants, especially since they were not hiding: in order to have a clear field of vision, they were out in the open on a hill for more than an hour,” the report said. “They wore helmets and bulletproof vests with ‘Press’ written on them.”
Asked why it released preliminary findings and an accompanying six-minute video rather than waiting until the investigation was complete, Jonathan Dagher, head of the Middle East desk, said: “We are confident in our findings at this point and wanted them to be public does this.” knows about them.
“There are other elements that we have not yet been able to confirm.” He did not elaborate further.
The Lebanese army and government blame Israel for Abdallah’s death. A Lebanese military source told Portal the claim was supported by an on-site technical assessment carried out after the attack.
Abdallah was with two other Portal journalists, Maher Nazeh and Thaer Al-Sudani, as well as journalists from media groups Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse when he was killed.
Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Edited by David Clarke, Mark Bendeich and Lisa Shumaker
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