Amnesty International calls for investigation into potential Israeli war crimes in Lebanon

LONDON — Amnesty International has called for a formal investigation into potential war crimes committed by the Israeli military in southern Lebanon, citing the widespread destruction of civilian property and the forced displacement of entire communities.

“The Israeli military’s destruction of civilian homes, property, and land in southern Lebanon rendered entire areas uninhabitable and ruined countless lives,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns. She stressed that the actions, carried out even after a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah and its allies, must be investigated as war crimes.

A truce was reached on 27 November 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah, ending more than a year of confrontations that escalated into two months of open war. During that period, Israel launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon and carried out extensive bombing campaigns targeting villages, infrastructure, and agricultural lands belonging to both Christian and Muslim communities. Amnesty reported that Israeli forces deliberately destroyed civilian property, using explosives to demolish buildings and preventing residents from returning.

The organization also noted that Israeli strikes continued against Hezbollah sites and surrounding areas even after the ceasefire took effect. Despite the truce, Israel has maintained a military presence in certain locations it deems strategically important.

Amnesty International stated that it sent inquiries to Israeli authorities in June but received no response. According to its findings, Israel destroyed or severely damaged more than 10,000 buildings, the majority of which were affected after the ceasefire was declared.

The World Bank has estimated the total cost of the destruction in Lebanon at approximately $14 billion.