Reuters editor-in-chief calls for investigation into journalist’s death in Israel

Reuters editor-in-chief Alessandra Galloni called for an investigation into the death of Issam Abdallah, a Reuters video journalist who was killed on Friday (13) when he was hit by a projectile from Israeli military forces while filming a fire on the border between the Jewish-majority country and Lebanon.

“I reiterate my appeal to the Israeli authorities who said they are investigating [o caso] for them to conduct a quick, complete and transparent investigation into what happened,” Galloni said in a video posted on the social network X. “By transparent, I mean an investigation with coherent evidence and explanations.”

Galloni called on the Israel Defense Forces to account for the terms of the war between Israel and Hamas and asked Lebanon — which claims to have gathered evidence about the attack — for information about the case.

“I urge all parties to this conflict to respect and work with all media outlets to ensure the safety of journalists reporting in the region [do conflito],” said Galloni. “Reporting world events with accuracy, integrity, independence and freedom of expression is what we stand for at Reuters and it is critically important that our journalists can do so safely.”

Abdallah, 37, was killed while providing a live video signal to broadcasters, according to Reuters. In Abdallah’s obituary, Reuters reported that he was buried on Saturday in his hometown of Khiyam in South Lebanon and was survived by his mother, two brothers and a sister.

Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, the other two Reuters journalists injured in the incident, have been released from a hospital, Reuters reported.

Before Friday’s incident, at least 10 journalists had been killed since the start of the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

See also: images show the consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas