Israeli violations of international humanitarian law in Lebanon.

Photo by ErikaWittlieb on pixabay.com 

Israel continues generating geopolitical instability by attacking neighboring countries, among which is Lebanon, and causing numerous casualties, even among the civilian population. 

Indeed, more than one year after the deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Southern Lebanon, Israel not only did not retrieve its troops, but has also been conducting large-scale attacks in the region. The systematic destruction of infrastructure has “prevented tens of thousands of people from returning to their homes or rebuilding their lives”, as reported by Human Rights Watch, leaving entire communities only with destruction and loss. Furthermore, once the cease-fire had already been agreed on, Israeli attacks had killed 380 people, among whom at least 127 were civilians. The actions carried out with impunity by the Israeli government clearly constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. 

Several human rights groups and organisations, among which are Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, are calling for accountability regarding Israel’s actions. 

However, these groups (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Legal Agenda, the Union of Journalists in Lebanon, and Reporters without Borders) are also urging the Lebanese government to take legal actions “to help secure access to justice, truth, and reparations for thousands of civilian victims of abuses”. 

Indeed, according to these organisations, “the Lebanese government is ignoring a concrete set of legal actions it could have taken during this past year”. In fact, legal actions can be taken both domestically and internationally; in particular, filing a declaration with the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be a fundamental step, as highlighted by the activists. However, Lebanon is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; therefore, according to human rights groups, Lebanon should consider ratifying the Statute as soon as possible. 

Moreover, Lebanon is not the only country in the region that should take urgent measures on this matter. Indeed, “given the long-standing pattern of serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by Israeli forces”, accountability should represent a priority for all the countries involved in the conflicts carried out by Israel. 

What’s particularly concerning is the fact that, after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon entered into force in November 2024, four months later, on February 18, 2025, Israel announced that “it would maintain a military presence in, and temporarily control, five 'strategic' vantage points in southern Lebanon.” The impact on the civilians has been devastating, and it becomes harder and harder to define it as a casualty of the conflict between Israel and the armed group Hezbollah. 

Today, the attacks carried out by Israel in Lebanon continue to cause victims among civilians. Indeed, on March 24, 2026, “an Israeli strike on a residential apartment in Bchamoun in the capital, Beirut, has killed at least three people, including a three-year-old girl, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health”.

What is even more appalling is the fact that, according to Al Jazeera, “Hezbollah had not attacked Israel since a November 2024 ceasefire, despite near-daily breaches of the deal by Israel”. 

During this historical period, when international and humanitarian law are being constantly violated, it is fundamental to urge states to pursue legal action through internationally recognised tools and procedures. 

written by Alice Scotti