Lebanon – An international expert warns of the threat of systematic attacks and killings carried out by Israel to peace efforts

Special Rapporteur Maurice Tidball Baines said: “This is not an isolated incident, but part of a disturbing pattern of deadly strikes launched by Israel on populated areas, in complete disregard for the ceasefire and Lebanese peace efforts.”

He added in a press statement that “These repeated attacks on civilians and civilian objects constitute war crimes and a violation of…United Nations Charter“.

Events on which the Special Rapporteur is based

The press release referred to reports of Israeli marches bombing on November 18 of the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, killing at least 14 people – including 12 children – and wounding at least six others, in the deadliest raid since the November 2024 ceasefire.

The statement stated that Israel claimed to have targeted “a Hamas training complex, without providing further clarification.”

The independent UN expert noted that the Ain al-Hilweh attack comes in the wake of almost daily Israeli air and drone strikes across Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, approximately 127 Lebanese civilians were killed and many injured in these operations, which struck homes, vehicles and other civilian targets in southern villages and along main roads.

The Special Rapporteur said that these incidents “They represent part of a broader pattern of unlawful killings and violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel.”

United Nations peacekeeping forces

Tidball-Baines expressed concern about renewed attacks on UN peacekeepers operating within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The independent UN expert said “Directing intentional attacks against United Nations personnel constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law.”

He added that these incidents “amount to the level of international crimes, and are serious violations of Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty.”

The international expert said that these attacks severely undermine the efforts of the Lebanese government aimed at implementing the ceasefire, restoring peace, and ensuring justice and security for its people.

Demands

• The independent UN rapporteur urged Israel to immediately cease all attacks in Lebanon, and fully comply with Security Council Resolution 1701, the terms of the ceasefire, and its obligations under international law.

• He called for prompt, independent and effective investigations into all alleged unlawful killings resulting from Israeli strikes in Lebanon, especially after the ceasefire.

• He urged the international community to put pressure on Israel to fully implement the ceasefire, immediately stop launching further attacks and killings on Lebanese territory, and support independent and effective investigations and efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

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  *It is noteworthy that special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is an international body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Rapporteurs and experts are tasked with studying human rights situations and submitting reports on them to the Council. The experts perform their duties in a personal capacity and completely independent of any government or organization, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations agencies. Any opinions or positions they express are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the United Nations or the Office of the High Commissioner.