NEW YORK CITY: The UN Human Rights Office on Friday urged Israel and Hezbollah to “step back from the brink” of a major escalation in Lebanon, warning that widening hostilities were inflicting severe harm on civilians.
Ground incursions by the Israeli military into southern Lebanon, sweeping displacement orders and continuing airstrikes across the country are compounding the hardships for a population already strained by months of conflict.
“We urge the parties to step back from the brink of a major escalation of this conflict in Lebanon,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
avina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. (AFP)
“We call instead for urgent deescalation, compliance with their obligations under Security Council Resolution 1701 and faithful application of the 2024 ceasefire arrangements. The sovereignty of Lebanon and the human rights of its people must be respected.”
Tens of thousands of residents in more than 100 towns and villages in southern Lebanon have been affected by Israeli warnings and displacement orders. Hundreds of thousands of people in the country are affected overall.
On Thursday, the Israeli army ordered the complete evacuation of almost the entire southern suburb of Beirut, triggering fear and panic among residents. Evacuation warnings have also been issued for the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon and for the entire area south of the Litani River.
“These warnings and displacement orders reportedly affected more than 100 towns and villages, home to tens of thousands of people, and risk affecting many more,” Shamdasani said. “In all, hundreds of thousands have now been affected by these Israeli displacement orders.
“Their breadth makes them very difficult for the population to comply with and therefore brings into question their effectiveness, a requirement under international humanitarian law, and risks amounting to prohibited forced displacement.”
The recent renewal of violence has already taken a heavy toll on civilians. An Israeli strike on March 4 hit a residential building in Baalbek, killing at least eight people, including three girls and two women. Another strike the following day hit a building in the Nabatieh district, killing a family of four.
Shamdasani called for investigations into the attacks.
“Prompt and thorough investigations must be conducted, particularly to determine whether such attacks complied with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions,” she said.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has continued to fire barrages of rockets into Israel, hitting residential areas in northern and central parts of the country and injuring at least three people, raising concerns about indiscriminate attacks against civilians.
The UN Human Rights Office reiterated its call for all parties to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and governs security arrangements along the Israel-Lebanon border.
