Hundreds of mourners gathered in Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday for the funeral of three Lebanese journalists killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon the previous day. The victims were Ali Shoeib, a veteran correspondent for Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, Fatima Ftouni of Al Mayadeen channel, and her brother Mohammad Ftouni, a freelance cameraman.
The journalists were traveling together in a vehicle near Jezzine on the highway between Nabatieh and Sidon when an Israeli bomb struck their car. According to witnesses, a second strike hit as colleagues rushed to help the victims. The Lebanese health ministry reported that an ambulance carrying first responders was also targeted in the attack.
The funeral took place in pouring rain, with mourners holding posters of the deceased journalists wearing their press body armor and holding cameras. Many Hezbollah flags were visible at the ceremony in the temporary cemetery where the group maintains influence. The bodies of Shoeib and Fatima Ftouni were draped with their respective television channels' logos and adorned with flower bouquets.
They're killing the messengers of this war
Mourner — Sky News
Israeli military officials acknowledged targeting the journalists but attempted to justify the killings by claiming Shoeib was a member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force who was passing information about Israeli troop movements. However, no evidence was provided to support this allegation, and the military made no comment regarding the deaths of the Ftouni siblings.
Al Jazeera frames the story as a clear condemnation of Israeli actions, emphasizing Lebanese authorities' characterization of the attack as a war crime. The outlet presents the incident straightforwardly without questioning the journalists' affiliations.
Sky News provides detailed coverage emphasizing the lack of evidence for Israeli claims about the journalists. The outlet highlights the broader pattern of targeting media workers and includes strong condemnation from press freedom organizations.
The New Arab contextualizes the killings within the broader conflict while noting Israeli claims without evidence. The outlet emphasizes the human cost and includes voices from the funeral expressing determination to continue journalistic work.
France 24 focuses on the funeral proceedings and international condemnation, particularly highlighting French Foreign Minister's statement that journalists must never be targeted. The coverage emphasizes the violation of international law.
We have seen a disturbing pattern in this war and in the decades prior of Israel accusing journalists of being active combatants and terrorists without providing credible evidence
Sara Qudah, Regional Director — Committee for the Protection of Journalists
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the killings as a blatant crime, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that journalists working in war zones must never be targeted, even when they have links with parties to the conflict. The Union of Journalists in Lebanon described the attack as a war crime, drawing parallels to similar incidents in Gaza.
Fatima and Ali were heroes. We will continue on this path, on this journey, even if we all become martyrs
Qassem, relative of Ftouni — AFP
The killings occurred amid intensified Israeli military operations in Lebanon, with attacks reportedly targeting health facilities and healthcare workers. More than fifty medics have been killed in less than a month, according to reports. Since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began, the Committee to Protect Journalists has documented at least 11 Lebanese journalists and press workers killed by Israeli forces.
The conflict escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel following the killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting large-scale Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground offensive in the south. Lebanese authorities report at least 1,189 people have been killed since the hostilities began, despite a November 2024 ceasefire agreement that has been repeatedly violated.