United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated on Monday that Israel's actions in southern Lebanon, including widespread displacement and the destruction of villages, could amount to war crimes. His remarks came during a visit to Beirut, following accusations by the Lebanese Armed Forces that Israel was preventing them from fully controlling designated "pilot zones" established as part of a US-brokered peace framework.
Turk noted that despite a ceasefire, the Israeli military continues air strikes and ground operations, leading to casualties. His office has recorded large-scale violations of international humanitarian law, some of which may constitute war crimes. He emphasized that no one is above international law and called for an end to Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon and the demolition of homes.
The Lebanese army reported that Israeli gunfire near their deployment points was hampering their missions and preventing residents from returning to pilot zones. The army accused Israeli forces of daily home demolitions, burning agricultural land, and shelling. Meanwhile, the army continues its missions in towns like Zawtar Al Gharbiyeh, Froun, and Srifa, which are part of the pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese troop deployment.
The pilot zone implementation is intended to test the feasibility of a framework agreement that includes Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah disarmament. However, initial zones were criticized as no Israeli forces were present in some, and only on the outskirts in others. Civilians were barred from returning to their homes in Zawtar Al Gharbiyeh until Friday, with the mayor reporting that over half the town has been destroyed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told his cabinet that Israel would resist US pressure to withdraw its forces.
