Lebanese Media Institutions and Journalists Threatened by Israeli Spokesperson, Call for Solidarity.

Beirut: Lebanon's Ministry of Information, alongside the Press Syndicate, the Editors' Syndicate, and the National Audiovisual Media Council, has issued a joint statement condemning threats by Israeli military spokesperson, Avichay Adraee. The statement highlighted what was described as 'dangerous declarations and threats' made by Adraee against Lebanese media institutions and journalists, threatening them with 'destruction and assassination.' According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Adraee, in the past two days, released two declarations stripping Lebanese media personnel of their civilian status as recognized by international bodies such as the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, UNESCO, and others. The statement argues that this act renders the media personnel as legitimate targets for Israel's military, which blatantly disregards international laws and conventions. The statement emphasized that these threats target all media institutions and journalists, marking a severe violation of human rig hts and democratic principles. It warns that Adraee's rhetoric fosters a culture of terrorism, urging an international response to counter this stance in both peace and war times. The threats have been submitted to relevant international organizations, with a call for condemnation and denouncement. It further asserts that Adraee's explicit threats amount to 'a war crime under international law,' and calls for urgent action at various levels to address these threats. The statement brands the threats as a direct attack on freedom of expression and press freedom, urging relevant organizations to act swiftly. The statement concludes by urging all Lebanese media outlets and journalists, irrespective of their affiliations, to show solidarity in the face of these threats, warning that continued rhetoric of this nature would spare no one.