A Reuters journalist was killed and six others were wounded on Sunday when shells fired by Israel hit a building in southern Lebanon, where they were covering the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The journalist, identified as Mohammad Zaatari, was a Lebanese national who had worked for Reuters for more than 10 years. He was among a group of journalists who had gone to the town of Tyre to report on the impact of the Israeli shelling on the civilian population.
According to witnesses and colleagues, Zaatari was standing on the balcony of a hotel when a shell landed nearby, killing him instantly. Six other journalists, including two from Al Jazeera and one from AFP, were injured by shrapnel and taken to a nearby hospital.
Reuters said in a statement that it was “deeply saddened” by the death of Zaatari and expressed its condolences to his family and friends. “Mohammad was a talented and courageous journalist who dedicated his life to reporting the truth from one of the world’s most difficult and dangerous regions,” the statement said.
The Israeli military said that it was targeting rocket launchers and other military sites used by Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that supports Hamas and has also fired rockets at Israel in recent days. The military said that it regretted any harm caused to civilians or journalists and that it was investigating the incident.
The shelling of Lebanon was part of a wider escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel by air, land, and sea. The attack killed more than 700 Israelis, including hundreds of civilians who were attending a music festival near the Gaza border.
Israel responded with a massive aerial and ground assault on Gaza, killing more than 400 Palestinians, mostly militants but also some civilians. Israel also targeted Hamas leaders, infrastructure, and weapons caches. The war has also sparked violence and unrest within Israel, where Arab and Jewish citizens have clashed in several towns and cities.
The international community has expressed alarm and concern over the situation and called for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution. The US has announced more support for Israel by sending munitions and boosting forces in the region. The UN Security Council has held several meetings but failed to agree on a joint statement or resolution.
The war is the worst outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas since 2014, when they fought a 50-day war that killed more than 2,000 people. The two sides have been locked in a long-standing conflict over land, security, and rights, with no sign of a lasting peace agreement.
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