Lebanon has recently taken a historic step towards achieving justice for war crimes committed on its territory. Over the past six months, the country has accused Israel of repeatedly violating its sovereignty and committing violations of international law. The Israeli army and Hezbollah engaged in cross-border exchanges of fire while Israel was also waging a war on Gaza.
An investigation by Reuters found that these cross-border bombings resulted in the deaths of at least 70 civilians, including children, rescue personnel, and journalists. Among the journalists killed was Issam Al-Abdullah, a Reuters correspondent who was fatally shot by an Israeli tank on October 13. On Friday, the Lebanese caretaker government voted to submit a declaration to the International Criminal Court (ICC), accepting its jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes within Lebanese territory since October 7.
The decree also called for including a report from the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in complaints against Israel to the United Nations. TNO analyzed evidence collected from the scene of Issam Al-Abdullah’s killing, including shrapnel, bullet-proof vests, a camera, a tripod, and other materials.
Lebanon is not a member of the ICC but submitting a declaration would give it authority to investigate relevant crimes and hold a trial within a specified timeframe. Human Rights Watch praised Lebanon’s move towards justice for war crimes committed on its territory and urged it to formalize the declaration as soon as possible. The organization emphasized that violators of international law may face consequences in courtrooms if they are held accountable for their actions.
This historic step by Lebanon is expected to bring closure to many families who have suffered at the hands of Israeli aggression. It is also hoped that this move will deter future violations and ensure accountability for those responsible for such atrocities.
Overall, this development marks an important moment in Lebanon’s efforts towards peace and justice in its region.