LEBANON (NPTV/IFJ): International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned killing of Amal Khalil, a 43-year old Lebanese journalist, who was associated with Daily Al-Akhbar, in Israeli attack here on Wednesday (22nd April, 2026).
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “We are appalled by Israel’s targeted killing of our colleague, Amal Khalil, and by the obstruction of rescue efforts that prevented help from reaching her as she lay trapped under the rubble.
“Israel’s deliberate violence and its systematic killing of journalists in Gaza is being replicated in Lebanon in the face of the international community’s inaction and with total impunity. Those responsible for crimes on journalists and war crimes must be held accountable before international courts.”
G. M. Jamali, Member At Large, The Federation of Asia-Pacific Journalists (FAPaJ)/IFJ while condemning the targeted killing of Amal Khalil, stated: “In the present time flag-bearers of truth face greater risks then ever before. As Secretary General of UN recently noted: ‘Journalists face attacks, detentions, censorship, intimidation, violence and even death — simply for doing their jobs’.
“We are seeing a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed in conflict areas – particularly in Gaza. During Hamas-Israel conflict, two hundred and sixty journalists and Media Workers have been slain in Gaza. That will be remembered in the annuls of history as the deadliest place for those attempting to report the fact. But their killers roam free.“
IFJ stated: “Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was targeted and killed in a building where she had taken cover from Israeli airstrikes.
“Rescue teams were prevented from reaching her for hours. Khalil was reporting on developments in southern Lebanon alongside local photographer Zeinab Faraj, who was injured in the attack and was transferred to hospital.
“The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Union of Journalists of Lebanon (UJL), in strongly condemning the targeted assassination of Khalil, and reiterates that deliberate attacks on civilians, including journalists, constitute war crimes.
“Amal Khalil, a journalist who worked for the newspaper Al-Akhbar, and Zeinab Faraj, a freelance photographer, were reporting near the town of Al Tayri in southern Lebanon when an Israeli drone strike hit a civilian vehicle in front of them, killing two people. As the journalists sought shelter outside, the drone returned and attacked their car, the Union of Journalists of Lebanon (UJL) reported.
“Two hours later, the Israeli army targeted the building where the journalists had taken shelter, according to the UJL and Lebanese officials. Rescue teams were able to evacuate Faraj, who was wounded and transferred to a hospital, but they could not access the building where Khalil was trapped.
“UJL issued an urgent appeal reporting that Khalil was trapped under the rubble and that Red Cross rescue teams were unable to reach her due to ongoing Israeli attacks.“The Union holds the enemy fully responsible for her life and considers this a blatant crime,” read the emergency appeal.
“UJL President Elsy Moufarrej informed the IFJ that the Israeli army had delayed approving entry to the site where Khalil was trapped for the rescue teams. Her body was only retrieved from the rubble hours later. In September 2024, the union reported and denounced a text containing death threats against Khalil, which were attributed to the Israeli army.
“UJL President Elsy Moufarrej condemned both Israel’s targeted assassination of Khalil and its prevention of the journalist from receiving medical treatment. “[…] The Israeli army adds to its long and bloody record a new and deliberate war crime that led to the martyrdom of Amal Khalil, who bled to death, after preventing ambulance crews from reaching her for nearly four hours”.
Four journalists and media workers have been killed in Lebanon, since the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran on 28th February, starting a war.
Newspakistan.tv
M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career forty-five years ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.
