Israeli troops accused of killing journalist; Hamas says captured soldier killed

The Israeli military, responding on Friday to a Reuters investigation that determined its forces killed a Reuters journalist in southern Lebanon on October 13, said the incident took place in an active combat zone and was under review. 

Without directly addressing the death of visuals journalist Issam Abdallah, a military statement said Lebanese Hezbollah fighters had at the time attacked across the border and Israeli forces opened fire to prevent a suspected armed infiltration. 

A Reuters special report published on Thursday found that an Israeli tank crew killed Abdallah and wounded six reporters by firing two shells in quick succession from Israel while the journalists were filming cross-border shelling. 

Israel's statement on Friday said that on October 13, Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants launched an attack on multiple targets within Israeli territory along the Lebanese border. 

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"Active combat zone"

"One incident involved the firing of an anti-tank missile, which struck the border fence near the village Hanita. Following the launch of the anti-tank missile, concerns arose over the potential infiltration of terrorists into Israeli territory," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. 

"In response, the IDF used artillery and tank fire to prevent the infiltration. The IDF is aware of the claim that journalists who were in the area were killed. 

"The area is an active combat zone, where active fire takes place and being in this area is dangerous. The incident is currently under review," it said. 

The strikes killed Abdallah, 37, and severely wounded Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi, 28, just over a kilometer from the Israeli border near the Lebanese village of Alma al-Chaab.

Hamas confirms hostage death

The armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas said an Israeli soldier who had been held hostage was killed early on Friday in a clash between the militants and an Israeli special forces unit that was conducting a rescue operation. 

Al-Qassam Brigades said its fighters had discovered the rescue operation and confronted the unit which led to the death and injury of a number of the Israeli forces involved in the operation, without specifying a number. 

They identified the captive soldier who was killed as 25-year-old Sa'ar Baruch and gave an identification number for him. 

The Israeli Defense Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Israel rescued a captive soldier from Gaza captivity in late October and has said it could mount similar operations to retrieve remaining hostages if possible.

Palestinians killed in West Bank

Israeli forces killed five Palestinians during a raid near Tubas, a town in the occupied West Bank, on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The Israeli military spokesperson's office said it was checking the report. The West Bank has seen a surge in violence in parallel to Israel's war with Hamas Islamists in Gaza, another territory where Palestinians seek statehood.

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