William Christou
willchristou.bsky.social
William Christou
@willchristou.bsky.social
Writing for the Guardian in Beirut.
Thanks!
April 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Or at the very least not a source of misinformation
December 30, 2024 at 10:49 PM
"I’m still waiting for the door to open and for him to enter. He promised me that we would grow old and we would go live in the south together – but now he stayed there and I will stay here, in Beirut, forever,” Sana, said of her husband Ghassan, who left behind a 3-year-old son.
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
The families of the three journalists - cameraman Ghassan Najjar and technician Mohammad Reda from al-Mayadeen, as well as cameraman Wissam Qassem from al-Manar - will never be the same. They join journalists Essam Abdullah, Farah Omar and Rabih al-Maamari all killed by Israel.
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Head of ARI & IHL lawyer Nadim Houry said that the attack also fits a pattern of Israel expanding its definition of military targets to anyone who is affiliated w/groups like Hezbollah & Hamas, regardless, if they are civilians like journalists or medics. This is a violation of intl. law.
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
UN special rapporteur on press freedom Irene Khan said the attack in Lebanon "matches with the pattern of killings and attacks by Israeli forces on journalists in Gaza" ... which were part of "of a deliberate strategy by the Israeli military to silence critical reporting on the war."
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
The presence of drones, watchtowers, & presence of cars with press markers at the time of the strikes mean the Israelis should have known there were journalists in the chalets.

The use of a precision-guided bomb would imply they selected the chalet as a target anyway.
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Shrapnel at the scene shows a 500-lb MK-80 series bomb, fitted w/US-made JDAM kit which turns it into a guided bomb, was used in the strike.

1st pic is a remnant of Boeing JDAM tailfin. 2nd pic is the control section, cage code 81873 reveals it's made by Woodward.
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Israel likely knew they were journalists too. The journalists traveled to a hilltop every day to film, driving press cars and wearing press flak. Drones were also above the guesthouse

The site was in line of sight of 3 Israeli watchtowers, which have tracking capacity up to 10km
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Israel said the chalet contained "military infrastructure" & "Hezbollah terrorists", then said it would review the incident after it came out that it killed journalists.

The Guardian found no evidence that any of the targeted journalists were anything but civilians.
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
On 2 October, 18 journos moved into guesthouses in Hasbaya, choosing the location for its safety & lack of affiliation w/Hezbollah.

On 25 Oct., one of the chalets was struck by Israel, killing 3 journalists & wounding 3 more as they slept.
November 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM