War Crimes Unveiled: Unpacking the Israeli Occupation’s Attacks on Lebanese Civilians
GHRTV
09-11-2023
Perla Khaled
Middle East and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
The Israeli Occupation has upheld its persistent violations of international humanitarian law and the deliberate targeting of civilians in its neighbouring countries since October 7, with residents in South Lebanon bearing the heavy burden of these actions.
On Sunday, November 5, the Israeli army killed three children and their grandmother in south Lebanon through an air attack that targeted their moving car between the towns of Ainata and Aitaroun, causing it to burst into flames. [1] The three girls, aged 10, 12, and 14, were the nieces of Lebanese journalist Samir Ayoub, who was in the car ahead of the targeted one. The children’s mother was also in the car and remains in critical condition. [2]
“Regarding Lebanon, we attack on the basis of intelligence information and we will continue to attack. That is our mission. Anyone who threatens us we will attack them,” said Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari, offering no apologies for the killing of civilians. [3]
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib stated that the country intends to file a complaint regarding the incident to the United Nations. [4] Earlier on the same day, an Israeli drone struck an ambulance on its way to pick up casualties in Tayr Harfa, injuring four paramedics. [5]
The deaths of civilians on Sunday raised the total civilian casualties in Lebanon at the hands of Israeli authorities to 14. [6] On October 14, two civilians were killed after an Israeli shell landed on their house. [7] Moreover, on October 30, a 16-year-old boy was hit by an Israeli missile while riding his motorcycle and later succumbed to his wounds. [8] Similarly, on November 1, two shepherds, aged 20 and 22, were found dead after being shot by the Israeli army while tending to their flock near the Wazzani River. [9]
The Israeli regime has not only targeted civilians but also journalists performing their work, a clear violation of the provisions of Article 79 of the first Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. [10] On October 13, the Israeli military attacked a spot in Southern Lebanon where seven journalists were present. [11] Two separate Israeli strikes, occurring only 30 seconds apart, killed Reuters photojournalist Issam Abdallah and seriously injured his colleagues. [12] The journalists in question had been in an open area for more than an hour before the attack. Moreover, they were also unmistakably identifiable as non-combatants, as they were equipped with protective gear, including helmets and bulletproof coats marked with the sign “press”. [13] A video reconstruction of the attack, published by Reporters without Borders, illustrates that the victims were standing in a safe space away from any shooting or confrontations, making it impossible for them to be mistaken for combatants and rendering the attack a deliberate targeting of the journalists. [14]
According to Amnesty International, the Israeli army used white phosphorus smoke artillery shells in the populated town of Dhayra on October 16, resulting in injuries to nine civilians. [15] The use of such weapons was also recorded in three other separate occasions. [16] In 2013, the Israeli military committed to halting the usage of artillery shells with white phosphorus. [17] Nevertheless, it has continued to employ such weapons in its attacks on Lebanon. Using white phosphorus, an incendiary weapon, in populated areas constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which the Israeli government has yet to accede to. [18]
Sources and further reading:
[1] Al Jazeera, ‘Family, including three children, killed by Israeli attack in south Lebanon’ (05 November 2023) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/5/woman-three-children-killed-by-israeli-air-strike-in-southern-lebanon> accessed 09 November 2023.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Anadolu Agency, ‘Israeli drone strike on ambulance in southern Lebanon wounds 4 paramedics’ (06 November 2023) <Israeli drone strike on ambulance in southern Lebanon wounds 4 paramedics> accessed 09 November 2023.
[6] Al Jazeera, ‘Family, including three children, killed by Israeli attack in south Lebanon’ (05 November 2023) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/5/woman-three-children-killed-by-israeli-air-strike-in-southern-lebanon> accessed 09 November 2023.
[7] Megaphone News, ‘5 Lebanese civilians killed by the occupation in the South’ (02 November 2023) <https://www.instagram.com/p/CzJh4LyIeMP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link> accessed 09 November 2023.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] International Committee of the Red Cross, ‘Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals in Time of Armed Conflict’ <Protection of Journalists | How does law protect in war? - Online casebook> accessed 09 November 2023.
[11] Reporters Without Borders, ‘RSF video investigation into the death of Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah in Lebanon: the journalists' vehicle was explicitly targeted’ (29 October 2023) <RSF video investigation into the death of Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah in Lebanon: the journalists' vehicle was explicitly targeted> accessed 09 November 2023.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Reporters Without Borders, ‘Death of Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah: What happened on the Lebanese-Israeli border?’ (29 October 2023) <Death of Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah: What happened on the Lebanese-Israeli border?> accessed 09 November 2023.
[15] Amnesty International, ‘Lebanon: Evidence of Israel’s unlawful use of white phosphorus in southern Lebanon as cross-border hostilities escalate’ (31 October 2013) <Evidence of Israel's unlawful use of white phosphorus in southern Lebanon as cross-border hostilities escalate> accessed 09 November 2023.
[16] Ibid.
[17] BBC, ‘Israel 'to stop using white phosphorus shells’ (26 April 2013) <Israel 'to stop using white phosphorus shells' - BBC News> accessed 09 November 2023.
[18] Ibid.
