UN Rapporteur Says Israeli Strikes in Lebanon May Constitute War Crimes
BEIRUT, Lebanon – Recent Israeli strikes targeting vehicles and infrastructure in southern Lebanon, occurring since a November 2024 ceasefire, could amount to “war crimes,” according to UN Special Rapporteur Morris Tidball-Binz. The assessment,delivered to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday,comes amid escalating tensions and a new strike reported Friday targeting a car in the region.
The Israeli army maintains it is indeed targeting Hezbollah members or associated targets during these strikes, many of which have focused on individuals on motorcycles, in vehicles, or operating heavy machinery. However, Tidball-Binz stated, “Unless there is convincing evidence that these civilian objects have dual purposes [military] (…) the strikes are illegal.” He further asserted, “The killings resulting from these attacks amount, from my personal perspective, to war crimes.”
Thursday evening saw some of the most intense Israeli strikes as the ceasefire with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, resulting in one fatality and seven injuries.While the Israeli army claimed to have struck “Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure,” lebanese President Joseph Aoun countered that “civil installations” were deliberately targeted.
Significant damage was reported to civilian infrastructure. The South Lebanon Water Board announced the destruction of its strategic fuel oil depot, containing half a million liters intended to power water stations and generators for southern villages and towns. A cement factory also sustained serious damage, with over ten strikes reportedly hitting fuel oil, diesel, and liquid tar storage areas, sparking a large fire. Sales manager Ali Khalifeh affirmed, “We are an entirely civilian complex.”
President Aoun condemned the strikes as a “systematic policy” from Israel “aimed at destroying productive infrastructure.” Last week, Israeli airstrikes destroyed over 300 bulldozers and excavators in southern Lebanon.
this escalation in violence raises concerns about the potential for a wider conflict and underscores the ongoing fragility of the ceasefire between israel and Hezbollah.
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