BRUSSELS/KARACHI: Anthony Bellanger, Secretary General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), condemned the killing of three Lebanese journalists (Ali Shoeib, Fatima Ftouni & Mohammad Ftouni) in the line of duty in an Israeli airstrike in Jezzine (S. Lebanon) on Saturday (28th March, 2026) night.
“Journalists are civilians protected under international humanitarian law. By deliberately targeting these three media professionals, the State of Israel has once again committed a serious violation of this law,” Anthony Bellanger stated. He called for an independent international investigation leading to prosecution of those responsible in order to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists.
G. M. Jamali, Member at Large, Federation of Asia Pacific Journalists (FAPaJ – IFJ), while strongly denouncing the killing of three members of Press, maintained that Israel had long been murdering Media Workers against all the global agreements apropos their rights. He told that out of 129 journalists slain last year, 86 were killed by Israel.
Reporter of Lebanese TV News Channel Al-Manar Ali Shoeib and Reporter of Lebanese pan-Arab broadcaster Al Mayadeen Fatima Ftouni, were killed when their vehicle was hit. For decades Ali Shoeib had covered Israeli attacks.
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Sara Sabah of Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) noted: “We have seen a disturbing pattern in this war and in the decades prior of Israel accusing journalists of being active combatants and terrorists without providing credible evidence. Journalists are not legitimate targets, regardless of the outlet they work for.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun took to the X to state that journalists were civilians doing their professional duty: “It is a brazen crime that violates all treaties and norms through which journalists enjoy international protection in war.” In a statement released from teh presidency he said: “Once again, the Israeli aggression violates the most basic rules of international law, international humanitarian law and the laws of war, by targeting journalists, who are ultimately civilians performing a professional duty. This is a blatant crime that violates all the norms and treaties under which journalists enjoy international protection in wars.”
Funeral Prayers/Namaz-e-Janaza of three Lebanese journalists slain in Israeli strike in Southern Lebanon held on Sunday (29th March, 2026).
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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.
