In the southern Lebanese village of Baissarieh, mourners bid farewell to journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed the day before in an Israeli airstrike. More than 2,000 people from all over Lebanon gathered to pay their respects to Khalil, who worked for Al-Akhbar, a newspaper close to Hezbollah.
Khalil and her colleague Zeinab Faraj sought refuge in a house in Al-Tiri village after an Israeli strike hit the car they were traveling in. Another strike targeted the house where they were sheltering. It took hours for rescuers to reach the area and recover Khalil’s body.
The Israeli military claimed to have targeted two vehicles carrying “terrorists” who crossed their defense line in southern Lebanon. However, they denied blocking rescue teams from accessing the area.
This incident is not isolated, as since 2023, at least 11 Lebanese journalists and media professionals have been killed by Israel. Khalil, known as the “voice” of South Lebanon, covered all conflicts in the region in recent years.
Amal’s friends and admirers expressed outrage at her death, calling it a war crime and highlighting her role as a champion of freedom of expression. They also criticized Israel’s actions in creating a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, destroying villages and olive groves.
The funeral procession for Khalil drew thousands of mourners, including Reina Hoblos and Sabrina Ibrahim, who held her portrait. They spoke of Khalil’s deep love for Lebanon and her dedication to truth and justice. They vowed to honor her legacy and continue her work despite the tragedy that befell her.
