Press Release

Welch Welcomes Vermonter Dylan Collins to U.S. Capitol, Demands Accountability for Netanyahu Govt’s Targeting of Journalists

Dec 11, 2025

Welch and Mr. Collins were joined by Senator Van Hollen, Representative Balint, human rights leaders, and advocates for press freedom and safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Vermonter and Agence France-Presse (AFP) video journalist Dylan Collins, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Amnesty International USA to demand justice for journalists killed and injured in the Middle East.  

For the first time publicly, Senator Welch revealed that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has closed a review into the Israeli military’s October 13, 2023, targeted double-tap strike on a clearly identifiable group of journalists in southern Lebanon, which wounded his constituent, U.S. citizen and AFP video journalist, Dylan Collins. Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in the first strike, and AFP photojournalist Christina Assi was gravely wounded, resulting in the amputation of her right leg. It was the first case CPJ documented of Israeli forces targeting journalists after October 7, 2023—a pattern that has since expanded into dozens of similar cases. 

“Here’s the bottom line: the Netanyahu government has made it crystal clear that they never had serious intentions to investigate the deadly October 2023 attack that wounded Dylan Collins. It isn’t asking much of the Israeli government to conduct an investigation that meets international standards and to punish those responsible for this attack. Yet for over two years, we have done everything reasonably possible to get answers and accountability, only to be stonewalled at every turn. But we’re not going to give up our fight for answers,” said Senator Welch. “We’re demanding accountability from the Israeli government and our own to get justice for Dylan, his colleagues, and every member of the press targeted by the IDF since October 7, 2023.” 

“This was not a ‘fog of war’ incident. It was a war crime carried out in broad daylight and broadcast on live television,” said Mr. Collins. “As an American, I thought my government would fight for me. I thought that when an American citizen is wounded in an attack carried out by the U.S.’s greatest ally in the Middle East, that we would get answers.” 

Watch a livestream of the press conference here and view photos from the event below: 

“For over two years, there have been no answers for the journalists who were harmed from a targeted attack by the Israeli Defense Forces in Southern Lebanon. Dylan Collins, an American and a Vermonter, was severely wounded alongside six of his colleagues. A Reuters journalist, Issam Abdallah, was killed instantly. All of them were clearly identified as press,” said Rep. Balint. “I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Welch and Van Hollen, for continuing to demand accountability from both the Israeli and United States government. I will continue to oppose any attempt to intimidate or silence the press and seek accountability for the victims and their families.” 

“Over two years ago, Dylan Collins was injured by an IDF strike that left one reporter dead and several of his colleagues hospitalized alongside him. Since that strike, there have been no answers or accountability regarding what happened to Dylan and his colleagues. This silence has become part of a pattern of attacks on journalists by the IDF, with no resolution and no justice. It’s long past time for the U.S. government to live up to its stated commitment to defend American citizens abroad, and pursue accountability for this attack — it is essential not only for justice for Dylan and his colleagues, but also for the defense of press freedom around the world,” said Senator Van Hollen. 

“For more than two years, we have demanded answers about Israel’s deadly attack on a group of journalists, including an American and Vermonter. Having killed nearly 250 journalists in two years, it is clear Israel has no intention of investigating their crime. But it is even more outrageous that our own government — under both Biden and Trump—has helped that coverup. This Israeli impunity continues because of Washington’s silence. We will not forgive. We will not forget. And we will keep demanding justice,” said Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). 

“For decades, Israel’s purported investigations have functioned not to establish facts or deliver justice, but to shield Israeli forces from accountability for the targeted killing of journalists. The international community must now step in to break that pattern of impunity by ensuring effective war crimes investigations are opened,” said Amelia Evans, Advocacy Director, Committee to Protect Journalists. “Failing Dylan Collins is an unacceptable dereliction of a vital responsibility by the U.S. government — to defend U.S. citizens around the world. The Trump administration must uphold its duties to its citizens.” 

“More than two years have passed without accountability for the October 13 attack,” said Elizabeth Rghebi, MENA Advocacy Director, Amnesty International USA. “Israel must not be allowed to continue to kill and attack journalists with impunity. Those responsible for the unlawful attack on October 13 by Israeli forces must be held to account. We urge U.S. authorities to open an independent and thorough war crimes investigation in this case and to ensure accountability goes to the top of the Israeli military’s chain of command.”    

While hospitalized from injuries sustained in the strike, Collins reported the targeted attack to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and later presented video evidence of the double-tap strike to FBI and DHS investigators and the State Department in May 2024.  

Watch a video made by Collins of the targeted attack that he survived on October 13, 2023, below: 

In May 2024, the Vermont Congressional Delegation requested that the Department of State conduct a thorough and independent investigation into these events under the War Crimes Act of 1996 as well as other relevant U.S. and customary international law. In October 2024, Senator Welch joined eleven members of Congress in calling on the Biden Administration to open an investigation on the October 13 targeted attack that injured Collins. Senator Welch has directly engaged with the Trump Administration, Biden Administration, and the Embassy of Israel to demand accountability for the attack and obtain information about the case.  

Senator Welch’s office has repeatedly pressed both the Netanyahu and U.S. governments for clarity about Israel’s review of the strike that seriously wounded Collins and killed another journalist. In June 2025, the Israeli government told Senator Welch that its review had concluded and that no soldiers violated instructions or the Israeli military’s Rules of Engagement. It completed its review without ever interviewing Collins or requesting the extensive forensic evidence held by media and independent human rights investigators. Yet, in October 2025, the Netanyahu government told AFP: “The incident is currently under review, and the findings regarding the event have not yet been concluded.”  

Senator Welch, staff of Sens. Sanders, Van Hollen, and Rep. Balint also met with Collins on Capitol Hill in July. To date, the U.S. has failed to undertake an independent and transparent investigation resulting in accountability for this deadly attack. Following the press conference, Senator Welch led Sens. Sanders, Van Hollen, and Rep. Balint in sending an eighth letter to the U.S. government requesting answers about the attack and demanding accountability. A fact sheet on the Netanyahu government’s investigation into the October 13, 2023, attack on Collins and his colleagues can be found here. 

Read Senator Welch’s eight letters to the Biden Administration, Trump Administration, and State Department below: 

To date, CPJ has determined that a total of 59 journalists and media workers have been directly targeted and killed by Israeli forces, cases that CPJ classifies as murders. Independent investigations by AFP, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reuters, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon all concluded that on October 13, 2023, Israel conducted an apparently deliberate attack on a group of clearly identifiable members of the media. A deliberate attack on civilians constitutes a war crime under international law.  

At least 246 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israel since October 7, 2023, making it the deadliest period for journalists on record. The majority of those killed were Palestinians reporting from the occupied Gaza Strip. CPJ’s May 2023 report, “Deadly Pattern,” found that over 22 years, at least 20 journalists were killed by members of the Israel military. No one has ever been charged or held responsible for these deaths. 

###