Reuters photojournalist Issam Abdallah was killed in southern Lebanon on 13 October 2023 by an Israeli army strike. Since that date, at least eight journalists have been killed by the Israeli army in the region.
Jonathan Dagher, Head of RSF’s Middle East Desk, stated: "Three years after Issam Abdallah was killed in southern Lebanon, the region is becoming increasingly inaccessible to the press. Intended to protect civilian access, including journalists, the co-ordination mechanism established between the Israeli army, UNIFIL and the Lebanese authorities has become a tool of censorship, exploited by the Israeli army to further restrict press access. RSF demands justice for Issam Abdallah and his colleagues who have been targeted and killed by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon since 2023."
Escalating Obstruction of Press Access
Two journalists were denied access to the village of Debl in September 2026. These reporters held authorization from the Lebanese army for their visit, yet they remained blocked from entering the area.
Civilian movement faced further restrictions later that month. Following a separate visit by two journalists to Debl on 25 September 2026, the Israeli army banned civilian convoys from traveling to Debl and two neighboring villages. This prohibition on civilian transit lasted for three days. Authorities provided no further explanation for the blockade of the village roads or the refusal to honor the prior military permits held by the journalists.
Humanitarian Impact and Safety Concerns
Al-Akhbar journalist Amal Khalil died in April 2026 after Israeli forces obstructed a requested humanitarian evacuation corridor. Her death occurred as medical transit routes in southern Lebanon faced increasing military oversight.
Israeli authorities acknowledged in June 2026 that they had killed Reuters photojournalist Issam Abdallah during an incident on 13 October 2023. The military described the strike that killed him as a mistake. Six of his colleagues were injured in that same 2023 strike.
Carmen Joukhaddar, an Al Jazeera correspondent, said, "The message they sent by killing Issam has now become the norm throughout the occupied south." She noted that the ongoing restrictions on movement complicate reporting efforts for media personnel attempting to verify conditions in the region. Regarding the difficulty of gathering information under these conditions, Carmen Joukhaddar stated, "It is not the same to speak to people over the phone; they are afraid to speak freely. It is important for journalists to be on the ground and establish an atmosphere of trust."
