BEIRUT, Lebanon - A recent investigation conducted by two news organizations and two human rights groups has concluded that an Israeli tank round was responsible for the death of a Reuters video journalist near the Lebanese border in October. The investigation also highlights that Israeli forces either knew or should have known that journalists were being targeted.

These new findings mark the first public investigative report regarding the killing of a journalist in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas - a conflict that has proven particularly deadly for members of the media. The Committee to Protect Journalists has confirmed the deaths of at least 63 journalists and media workers since the Gaza war began, including 56 Palestinians, four Israelis, and three Lebanese journalists.

Following the attack, the Israeli military announced an ongoing investigation into the incident but has not yet released any official findings. Israeli military officials have consistently denied intentionally targeting journalists.

The victim of the attack was Lebanese video journalist Issam Abdallah, aged 37, who was killed instantly. Christina Assi, a photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP), was also severely wounded in the October 13th attack, along with at least five others.

The journalists were covering clashes along the border where Israel and the Hezbollah militia were exchanging fire. It was reported that all members of the news teams were wearing protective vests and helmets, with most clearly marked as "PRESS." The reports released Thursday found no evidence of military targets in close proximity to the journalists.

According to Reuters, an Israeli helicopter was observed hovering overhead before the initial strike. Furthermore, at least one of the press vehicles had a visible tape spelling out "TV" on the roof. The investigative reports revealed that shrapnel from an Israeli tank round was found embedded in a vehicle and body armor.

Reuters' investigation highlighted that the journalists were situated over half a mile away from the border with Israel at the time of the attack. The timeline presented by Reuters included live video footage of smoke rising from behind a hill, filmed by Abdallah. Shortly after focusing on an Israeli outpost and tank firing into Lebanon, the first tank round struck the team, resulting in the death of Abdallah. Only 37 seconds separated the first and second rounds, with the latter setting a car used by Al Jazeera on fire.

It is worth noting that two journalists from the Lebanese network Al Mayadeen were also killed in a separate attack near the border in Lebanon on November 21st, as they filmed in the area.

Human rights officials involved in the investigation emphasized that the abundance of video footage and other imagery from the attack on Abdallah and the other journalists allowed for an unusually detailed analysis. However, this level of documentation is not typically available for most of the other attacks that occurred in both Lebanon and Gaza.

The findings of these investigations highlight the dangers faced by journalists covering conflicts and underscore the pressing need for accountability and protection for members of the media working in war zones. The investigation into the killing of Issam Abdallah continues, and the international community awaits further developments in the pursuit of justice.

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