Israel’s Attacks on Civilians in Lebanon Constitute War Crimes
Maurice Tidball-Bons, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, emphasized on Friday that Israel’s attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Lebanon represent war crimes and serious violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 as well as Lebanese sovereignty.
In a statement, he described these actions-including the deadly attack on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp and repeated assaults against civilians and UN peacekeepers-not as isolated incidents but part of a disturbing pattern of lethal Israeli strikes in densely populated areas. These attacks show blatant disregard for the ceasefire agreement and peace efforts in Lebanon.
on November 18, 2025, an Israeli drone struck Ain al-Hilweh camp near Sidon, killing at least 14 people-including 12 children-and injuring six others. According to UN reports, this was the deadliest attack since the November 2024 ceasefire took effect.
The UN rapporteur also pointed out that these assaults occur while Israel illegally occupies five zones referred to as “buffer areas” in southern Lebanon. This occupation prevents civilians from returning home and allows Israel to unilaterally continue military operations against Lebanon.
Tidball-Bons warned that such actions severely undermine Lebanese government efforts to enforce the ceasefire, restore peace, and guarantee justice and security for its citizens. He called for accountability through prosecutions of those responsible for planning, ordering or authorizing these unlawful attacks.
He stressed: “Victims and their families must have access to truth, justice, and full reparations.”
The UN expert cautioned that renewed violence in Lebanon woudl be devastating for victims’ families while threatening fragile regional peace efforts.
In recent months, Israeli forces have continued attacking various parts of Lebanon-notably its south-in violation of the US- and France-mediated “Declaration to Halt Hostilities” signed on November 24, 2024-and also defying Security Council Resolution 1701 adopted in August 2006.
