The United Nations documents war crimes in the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah
A UN report indicates that Israeli strikes targeted multi-story residential buildings, resulting in the deaths of entire families in Lebanon.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights identified patterns of attacks against civilians in densely populated areas and residential buildings in Lebanon and Israel, stating that these may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The report covers the first three weeks of the latest escalation, which began after the Lebanese group Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to respond with a large-scale military offensive.
According to Lebanese authorities, around 2,500 people have been killed since then, amid widespread displacement and severe damage to civilian infrastructure. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a three-week extension of the ceasefire.
Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the Office, said it had documented several instances in which Israeli strikes targeted multi-story residential buildings, some of which were completely destroyed, leading to the deaths of entire families in Lebanon, which could constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The report cites, as an example, an Israeli strike on March 8 targeting a multi-story residential building in the town of Sair al-Gharbiya in Nabatieh governorate, killing at least 13 civilians inside the building, including five women, five men, two boys, and a girl.
The Office stated that such an incident raises concerns regarding compliance with the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in attack under international humanitarian law.
The report also said the Office concluded that Hezbollah had been firing unguided rockets lacking the precision required to strike specific military objectives, causing damage to civilian buildings and infrastructure in Israel, likely in violation of international humanitarian law.
While noting that Israeli forces issued notifications prior to some strikes in Lebanon, including broad evacuation warnings, the Office documented cases where either no warnings were given, or they were ineffective, preventing many civilians from evacuating safely.
Meanwhile, the Office said on Friday that attacks on journalists could amount to war crimes if deliberate.
An Israeli strike on Wednesday killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured photographer Zeinab Faraj, who was accompanying her in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said rescue teams, including the Lebanese Red Cross, faced obstacles from the Israeli army while trying to reach them.
According to Al-Kheetan, this included the use of a stun grenade and live fire directed at an ambulance, delaying access to the site.
The Israeli army said its air force struck a vehicle and a building after detecting two vehicles leaving a Hezbollah military site in southern Lebanon and crossing the forward defense line, which constituted an immediate threat.
The army reported receiving information that two journalists had been injured but said it did not prevent rescue teams from accessing the area. It added that it does not deliberately target journalists or medical teams and that the incident is under investigation.
