Vermont journalist Dylan Collins will join call for justice for October 2023 Israeli attack that wounded him and killed a Reuters journalist in Lebanon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, December 11th at 9:00 AM ET, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will join Vermonter and Agence France-Presse (AFP) video journalist Dylan Collins, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Amnesty International USA to demand accountability for the Netanyahu government’s systematic targeting of members of the press since October 7, 2023.
For the first time, Senator Welch will share findings from his office’s engagement with the Netanyahu and United States governments on the status of its probe into the attack on his constituent, U.S. citizen and AFP video journalist Dylan Collins.
Collins was wounded in the October 13, 2023, double-tap Israeli attack in southern Lebanon on a group of seven journalists clearly identifiable as members of the press. Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in the first strike, and AFP photojournalist Christina Assi gravely wounded, resulting in the amputation of her right leg. Collins reported the targeted attack to the U.S. embassy in Beirut while hospitalized from injuries sustained in the strike, 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 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 obtain information about the attack and demand accountability for those involved.
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 a credible and thorough investigation or to seek accountability for those involved.
WHO: U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.); Vermonter and Agence France-Presse (AFP) video journalist Dylan Collins; U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large); Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); Amnesty International USA
WHEN: Thursday, December 11th at 9:00 AM ET
WHERE: Senate Swamp, Capitol Hill
WATCH: Livestream the press conference on Senator Welch’s YouTube channel.
RSVP: Media are asked to RSVP here and to Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov.
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