Christina Assi, a Lebanese photojournalist severely wounded in an Israeli strike on south Lebanon, carried the Olympic torch in Paris on Sunday to honor journalists wounded and killed in the field. Assi, who lost part of her right leg in the attack that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah, was pushed in a wheelchair by her colleague Dylan Collins as she carried the torch through Vincennes.
The torch relay, part of the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, includes about 10,000 people carrying the flame across France. Assi's participation serves as a tribute to journalists affected by conflict and aims to highlight the need for protection and justice for the press.
The attack on Assi and other journalists has been criticized by international organizations as a potential war crime, with calls for investigation into the deliberate targeting of civilians. Despite the challenges and the ongoing conflict, Assi hopes her participation in the torch relay will raise awareness about the risks faced by journalists and the importance of their protection.