Mikati: Israel’s Deliberate Aggression Against Journalists Aims at Intimidating Media to Cover up Its Crimes

The head of the Lebanese caretaker government, Najib Mikati, confirmed that the new Israeli crime of targeting the headquarters of journalists in Hasbaya is one of the war crimes committed by the Israeli enemy without a deterrent or an international authority to stop what is happening.

The National Media Agency quoted Mikati as saying:” this deliberate aggression is definitely aimed at intimidating the media to cover up the crimes and destruction being committed.”

He pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has been directed to include this new crime in a series of files documenting Israeli crimes that will be submitted to the competent  international authorities, so that the global conscience may stop what is happening.

For his part, the Minister of Defense in the caretaker government, Maurice Salim, condemned the crime of targeting journalists and media workers in southern Lebanon, stressing that it reveals once again the brutality and arrogance of the Israeli enemy.

Salim said in a statement:” “The criminal Israeli entity is trying to cover up its crimes and target any witnesses to them. After targeting military personnel yesterday, it targeted a group of media workers recording his crimes at dawn today, and bombed their headquarters in Hasbaya, although it is known to be a gathering point for correspondents.”

In turn, the Lebanese Media and Communications Commission strongly condemned this heinous crime, which constitutes a flagrant violation of press freedom and reflects the barbarism of the enemy and its contempt for human and moral values.

The Commission called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities, condemn this cowardly act and take the necessary legal steps before the Criminal Court, the European Union and all relevant international institutions to punish the enemy leaders responsible for these crimes, as well as to ensure the protection of journalists and media professionals who carry out their duties wherever they may be.

It also called on international media organizations to reject such crimes and support freedom of the press and the media. Amal Farhat