Israel denial of aid to Amal Khalil may be a war crime, says CPJ

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 24 April 2026 |  JP Middle East Desk

CPJ says Israel's alleged denial of timely medical access to Lebanese reporter Amal Khalil after a strike in southern Lebanon may amount to a war crime. CPJ said shelling and gunfire blocked ambulances from reaching the scene.

Summary

NEW YORK—Israel’s alleged failure to allow timely medical access to an injured Lebanese journalist may constitute a war crime, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Thursday, following the death of reporter Amal Khalil in southern Lebanon.

Khalil, who worked for Beirut-based daily Al-Akhbar, was on assignment documenting the aftermath of strikes when she and freelance photojournalist Zeinab Faraj sought shelter in a building after a nearby attack killed two civilians. The building was subsequently hit, leaving both journalists trapped under rubble for hours.

Rescue delays raise legal concerns

Multiple credible reports cited by CPJ indicate that continued shelling and gunfire prevented ambulances and emergency responders from reaching the site in time. Colleagues who remained in contact with Khalil during the incident said she was initially conscious and in stable condition, but later succumbed to her injuries before medical teams could gain access. Faraj remains critically injured.

CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg said the incident reflects a troubling pattern. “Journalists are civilians and protected under international law. Preventing emergency services from reaching wounded individuals is a serious violation that demands accountability,” she said in a statement.

Under international humanitarian law, civilians, including journalists, must be protected from attack, and wounded individuals must receive medical care without discrimination. The deliberate denial of such care may constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and amount to a war crime.

Pattern of attacks on media workers

CPJ said Khalil’s death adds to a growing number of journalist fatalities in Lebanon since October 7, 2023, with at least 15 media workers reported killed by Israeli strikes. Her killing occurred during a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect on April 16, raising further concerns about compliance with international norms.

The organization also referenced a similar case in Gaza in December 2023, when Al Jazeera Arabic cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa died after rescue crews were reportedly blocked from reaching him for several hours following an Israeli strike.

CPJ’s regional director Sara Qudah, warned that a “culture of impunity” in Gaza may be contributing to repeated violations in Lebanon. She called for an independent international investigation into Khalil’s death and broader accountability for attacks on journalists.

Legal protections and targeting concerns

There is no publicly available evidence that Khalil or Faraj were participating in hostilities at the time of the strike. Under international law, journalists retain civilian protection regardless of their editorial affiliations, provided they do not take direct part in conflict.

Khalil had reportedly received threats before her death, including a documented warning in 2024 and public remarks by an Israeli military official days before the incident. Lebanese officials have also alleged that obstruction of rescue operations contributed directly to her death, a claim that, if verified, could constitute an additional violation of international humanitarian law.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on publicly available statements from the Committee to Protect Journalists (April 24, 2026) and reports by Al Jazeera (December 2023).

PHOTO: Amal Khalil (AFP/Circulated by CPJ)