Beirut’s recent decision to have its Justice Ministry explore legal options over the killing of journalists by Israeli forces has reopened a debate many thought long settled. Two years have passed since Isam Abdullah, a Lebanese journalist for Reuters, was killed by tank fire while covering clashes along the southern border.

A UN inquiry later found that the shells were deliberately aimed at a group of clearly identified reporters, a breach of the laws of war.

Human-rights groups say the attack was not an anomaly but part of a broader pattern. Journalists, medics, and civilians have continued to die in strikes that appear to disregard international humanitarian law. Reporters Without Borders counts more than 200 journalists killed in Gaza since the conflict escalated, while recent bombardments in Yemen and Lebanon have also hit media workers.

Human Rights Watch accuses Israel’s military of violations.

Human Rights Watch’s Ramzi Kaiss warns that impunity only guarantees repetition.