Lebanese parliament speaker accuses Israel of turning south into a “ballot box of blood”

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Sunday condemned Israel’s continued escalation in southern Lebanon, saying attacks on civilians and the destruction of facilities, homes and villages amounted to acts of state terrorism.

In comments carried by Sputnik, Berri said Israel had killed civilians, including children and women, in Mifdoun, Ramadiyeh and Mideon on Saturday and in Arab Salim early on Sunday. He also accused Israel of destroying Ghandoor Hospital in Nabatieh and targeting a Finance Ministry office in Nabatieh. He said the attacks, along with the continued destruction of homes and villages in Nabatieh, Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil and Tyre, were crimes that should be condemned because of their nature and scale.

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Berri said the developments showed that Israel had “not abided by any form of ceasefire”, adding that it was “breaking all rules, agreements and understandings”.

He said Israel’s continued military operations showed it was turning the south, its people and their property into a “ballot box of blood”, referring to the upcoming elections. He added that the conflict had become a race in which everyone was competing over who could kill and destroy more.

Berri said the situation in the south is an international responsibility requiring urgent intervention to stop the war against Lebanon and its south. At the same time, he stressed that it is a “national responsibility” requiring all sides to stand with the south.

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