The United Nations has reported that at least 127 civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since a ceasefire was declared nearly a year ago, calling for an impartial investigation into possible violations of international law.
Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, said at a Geneva press briefing: “We continue to witness increasing attacks by the Israeli military, resulting in the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian objects in Lebanon, coupled with alarming threats of a wider, intensified offensive.”
Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, which aimed to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, by continuing strikes and maintaining forces inside its territory. Israel has said Hezbollah is working to rebuild its military capabilities, accusing the Iran-backed group of breaking the ceasefire terms.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, more than 330 people have been killed and 945 injured since the ceasefire took effect on 27 November last year. Kheetan said the UN had verified that at least 127 civilians were killed in that period.
He highlighted an Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh camp for Palestinian refugees in southern Lebanon, which killed 13 people – 11 of them children. Israel said it had targeted “terrorists” from Hamas, but Kheetan said all fatalities documented were civilians, raising serious concerns about possible violations of international humanitarian law.
Kheetan also noted that continuing Israeli attacks have destroyed civilian infrastructure, hampered reconstruction, and left more than 64,000 people displaced. He urged all parties to comply with the ceasefire “in good faith.”
