Israeli Strike Reportedly Kills 3 Journalists in South Lebanon

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Facts

  • An Israeli airstrike killed three journalists in Hasbaya in South Lebanon early on Friday. The area had been considered more safe because Israel had not issued evacuation orders for it. Two of those killed worked for al-Mayadeen, which is generally supportive of Hezbollah, and one for al-Manar, which is affiliated with the group.[1]
  • The bungalow that was targeted had been used by several media outlets to cover the war. Lebanon accused Israel of deliberately targeting the journalists. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the strike.[2]
  • Earlier this week, Israel accused six journalists in Gaza of being members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), citing documents it allegedly found in Gaza and other intelligence that could not be verified. In July, Israel cited documents with contradictory information accusing another Al Jazeera journalist of being affiliated with Hamas.[3]
  • Al Jazeera denied the accusations, adding that its correspondents are the only internationally-affiliated journalists reporting from northern Gaza and documenting the worsening humanitarian situation there. Al Jazeera accused Israel of trying 'to silence the few remaining journalists in the region.'[4]
  • Israel has accused Al Jazeera of cooperating with Hamas, citing unverified documents. Al Jazeera is based in Qatar, which also hosts some of Hamas' leadership. Since the start of the war, Israel has cracked down on the outlet, banning it in Israel and shutting its office in the West Bank.[5]
  • The war in Gaza and Lebanon has been the deadliest for journalists in decades. The Committee to Protect Journalists has said that at least 131 journalists and media workers have been killed, with 123 being Palestinian, six Lebanese, and two Israeli.[6]

Sources: [1]NPR Online News, [2]Timesofisrael, [3]Associated Press, [4]Al Jazeera, [5]Jerusalem Post and [6]Committee to Protect Journalists.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Axios. The US strongly supports free speech and journalistic freedom. Nonetheless, in many cases, outlets like Al Jazeera have framed this complicated conflict in the most anti-Israel terms possible. Likewise, the US truly values Qatar's role in mediating negotiations, but it has made clear that there can be no more business as usual with Hamas.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Outlets like Al Jazeera serve as mouthpieces for terror, and Israel will not tolerate such incitement. Israel does not target journalists. However, many of the so-called 'journalists' killed in this conflict have actually been Hamas terrorists. Indeed, evidence continues to mount that Al Jazeera is complicit in terrorism.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Israel's claims are baseless and are being used to silence those covering its genocide in Gaza and its destruction of South Lebanon. The six Al Jazeera journalists Israel has accused of being Hamas and PIJ members all happen to be covering Israel's offensive in northern Gaza. Western media is also culpable in covering for Israel's genocide, taking Israeli claims at face value.

Predictions