Lebanese officials meet UN rights chief, back collection of evidence on war crimes

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned home demolitions by Israel in southern Lebanon during a meeting with UN rights chief Volker Turk on Monday, as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed his government’s support for collecting evidence of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, Anadolu reports.

“Israel’s continued destruction of homes and bulldozing of villages in the south constitutes a direct violation of human rights and a clear breach of international laws and norms, which necessitates international action to end it,” Aoun said during the meeting in Beirut, as cited by a presidency statement.

“Israel also targeted religious and heritage sites, and this shows premeditated intentions against people and stones, especially since such places are not military sites and do not witness an armed presence in them,” he added.

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to implementing last month’s US-mediated framework agreement with Israel.

“The Israeli practices will affect the deal’s effectiveness, and we will not accept the continued violation of its terms,” he warned.

Turk, for his part, said his office is following developments in Lebanon, particularly the continued Israeli attacks since March 2, in preparation for a detailed report on human rights violations.

Earlier Monday, Prime Minister Salam reaffirmed his government’s support for the continued collection and documentation of evidence related to war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.

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During a meeting with Turk in Beirut, Salam commended the work of the UN team of experts preparing a report on violations of international humanitarian law committed since October 2023, according to a statement from his office.

Salam said the Lebanese government supports the team’s continued efforts to gather and preserve evidence related to acts that could constitute war crimes.

He stressed the importance of documenting such evidence through an impartial international body such as the UN.

On June 26, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory, but it does not include a timetable for the withdrawal. Instead, it links completion of the process to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in areas vacated by Israeli forces and the disarmament of armed groups, including Hezbollah.

According to official Lebanese figures, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed 4,328 people and injured 12,232 others since March 2.

​​​​​​​Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, some of which have been held for decades and others seized during the previous war between October 2023 and November 2024.

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