Lebanon mulls options to prosecute Israel over killing of journalists

During its session held yesterday at the Grand Serail, the Lebanese cabinet tasked the Ministry of Justice with studying the legal options available to prosecute Israel for attacks committed against journalists while performing their professional duties, particularly the killing of Lebanese journalist Issam Abdallah and his companions.

This decision was based on a cabinet decision dated April 26, 2024 regarding the report of the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (NTO) on the circumstances surrounding the martyrdom of Abdallah, and another cabinet decision dated May 28, 2024, which requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to include the report in the complaint submitted by Lebanon to the United Nations in this regard.

The National News Agency said the proposal was initiated by Information Minister Paul Morcos on the anniversary of Abdallah’s killing and was not initially on cabinet’s agenda. The proposal was made after communication with President Joseph Aoun, who encouraged the decision, and with the support of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who endorsed the proposal and received the approval of the ministers present.