Amid intensifying exchanges of fire during a ceasefire between the Israeli military and the Iran-aligned armed faction Hezbollah, a Lebanese journalist was killed by an Israeli military attack.

According to Al Jazeera, Amal Khalil, a reporter for the Lebanese outlet Al Akhbar, was killed on the 22nd (local time) when the Israeli military attacked a residential area in the southern Lebanese town of Atiri. The Lebanese Ministry of Health stated that the Israeli military targeted the house where Khalil had taken shelter and tracked it for a follow-up strike.

Khalil was buried under the rubble of a building that collapsed in an Israeli vehicle strike and was found dead hours later. A Lebanese military official claimed that an Israeli drone dropped grenades on rescuers who were trying to save the injured journalist from the debris.

Since March, eight journalists have been killed in Lebanon, including Khalil. Lebanese authorities also asserted that Zeinab Faraj, a colleague who had taken shelter with Khalil, was a target of the Israeli military. Paul Morcos, the Lebanese Information Minister, said, “Targeting journalists is a heinous crime and a violation of international humanitarian law“ and “We will not stand idly by”.

Al Jazeera reported that Amal Khalil was a respected and well-known journalist in the area and that, during the 2024 Lebanese civil war, a phone call from an Israeli number via WhatsApp threatened the journalist to stop reporting, saying, “Leave the country if you want to save your life”.

The Israeli military denied allegations that Khalil was targeted and that rescue efforts were deliberately obstructed.