UN Human Rights Chief Warns of War Crimes in Lebanon

Following a visit to Lebanon, Türk reported that his office has documented large-scale violations of international humanitarian law. He described a landscape of compounded suffering, where residential neighborhoods, schools, and essential utility networks have been flattened. Despite a ceasefire brokered in late June, Israeli military activity persists, with Defense Minister Israel Katz recently claiming the destruction of 24 villages and up to 20,000 homes.

Israeli officials have indicated that their operational strategy mirrors the destruction previously seen in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces currently occupy approximately one-fifth of Lebanese territory, having established a self-declared security zone. The human toll remains staggering, with more than 4,300 deaths and 12,000 injuries reported, including 135 healthcare workers. Türk’s assessment arrived shortly after he secured a second term as commissioner, despite an unsuccessful attempt by the United States and Israel to block his reappointment.