U.S. Lawmakers Criticize Israel Over Lack of Accountability for 2023 Journalist Killing

Four U.S. lawmakers have publicly accused the Israeli government of failing to ensure accountability for a 2023 Israeli military strike that killed a Reuters journalist and wounded several colleagues, saying there is no credible evidence of a serious investigation.

The comments came during a news conference in Washington, D.C., where senators and a House member highlighted continued frustration over the handling of the October 13, 2023 incident in southern Lebanon. At the time, an Israeli tank fired on a group of journalists documenting cross-border shelling, killing Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah and severely injuring others, including Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi.

Calls for a Transparent Investigation

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) — whose state is home to one of the wounded journalists — said that despite repeated requests to the Israeli government, he has not seen documentation of a thorough investigation, nor evidence that Israeli authorities have interviewed survivors, independent witnesses, or relevant military personnel. Welch noted conflicting information from Israeli officials about whether a probe is ongoing or has been closed.

“The Israeli military has made no effort, none, to seriously investigate this incident,” Welch said, adding that his office has been “stonewalled” on accountability efforts.

Israeli Military Response

The Israeli military (IDF) has maintained that journalists are not deliberate targets of its operations. However, it has not offered a detailed explanation for why the tank unit involved fired on the group, and has provided limited public information about any review of the event. An IDF spokesperson told Reuters that the matter is “still being examined,” but offered no further substantive details.

Broader Concerns Raised

Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Becca Balint, both Democrats, along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), echoed Welch’s call for accountability, framing the incident within a broader pattern of concern over attacks on journalists and civilians. Van Hollen said the absence of justice or transparency is part of a pattern of impunity.

AFP’s Regional Director for North America, Marc Lavine, also stressed the need for a full accounting of the strike’s circumstances and for those responsible to be held to account.

Past Incidents Highlight Persistent Issues