Israel / Lebanon
TARGETING UN PEACEKEEPERS
On October 10th, UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon) reported that the Israeli army deliberately fired at and disabled the position’s perimeter-monitoring cameras. The unit of the UN PeaceKeepers added that the IDF also deliberately and repeatedly fired on Naqoura headquarters and nearby positions and bunkers known to shelter UN troops, damaging lighting and a relay station. The attacks resulted in at least two casualties on the part of the peacekeepers.
We remind the parties that UNFIL, like all UN peace operations, is deployed on the basis of the mandate given by the Security Council under resolution 1701 (2006). Therefore, any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law as well as the said Security Council resolution.
STRIKES ON EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL STAFF
The minister of health announced on the 3rd of October that more than 40 rescuers and firefighters have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past three days. Attacks on medical, humanitarian and first responders are prohibited under humanitarian laws. Such actions, if they cannot be justified by a proportionate military goal are in direct violation of the rule of law by the the Israeli army.
ISRAELI TROOPS ENGAGE INTO A GROUND INVASION IN THE SOUTH OF LEBANON
Both groups, the IDF and Hezbollah, reported fighting on the ground following the invasion by the IDF yesterday. Despite diplomatic calls for restraint from the United States and other international actors, Israel has launched a ground invasion in the South of Lebanon on the 1st of October. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), described the operation as aimed at the Iran-backed group’s “infrastructure”, which it says poses “an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel”. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to launch airstrikes towards Lebanon.
A SERIE OF DEEPLY CONCERNING ACTIONS
In recent weeks, Israel has inflicted huge damage on Hezbollah. The simultaneous explosion of pagers and walkie-talkie, injuring thousands and killing hundreds, showcased the vast web of influence and capabilities at the disposal of the Israeli army. The attack left a terrorised population and thousands of Hezbollah members killed or seriously injured. The killing of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah, in an airstrike on Beirut on the 27th of September dealt a heavy blow to the organisation. While the legality of the targeting of Hassan Nasrallah can find legality depending on whether he is to be understood as a civil or combatant, the question of proportionality remains central. In international law an attack may result in civilian deaths, but only in a manner proportionate to the concrete military objective pursued. However, the ‘targeted’ attack against Hezbollah’s leader, caused the collapse of several building densely populated by civilian that cannot fit the proportionality threshold.
A WORRYING ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE
Around one million people had been displaced across Lebanon since Israeli airstrikes began last month. This escalation is the result of almost a year of cross-border hostilities sparked by the war in Gaza. Since the 8th October 2023, day after Hamas attacked Israel and took hostage back to Gaza, Hezbollah has launched more than 8,000 rockets at northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and attacked military targets. The IDF retaliated with airstrikes against Hezbollah positions, even deep in Lebanon.