UN denounces Lebanon device blasts linked to Israel, says war crime to spread terror among civilians
Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area on the outskirts of the Lebanese southern village of Yater on September 20, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. — AFP pic
Saturday, 21 Sep 2024 11:47 AM MYT
NEW YORK, Sept 21 — The United Nations said yesterday the detonation of hand-held communication devices in Lebanon could constitute a war crime as Beirut’s top diplomat accused Israel of orchestrating what he called a “terror” attack.
The blasts that killed at least 37 people and wounded nearly 3,000 on Tuesday and Wednesday targeted communication devices used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Pagers and walkie-talkies exploded as their users were shopping in supermarkets, walking on streets and attending funerals, plunging the country into panic.
“International humanitarian law prohibits the use of booby-trap devices in the form of apparently harmless portable objects,” the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, told the Security Council during an emergency session on Lebanon requested by Algeria.
“It is a war crime to commit violence intended to spread terror among civilians,” he added, repeating his call for an “independent, rigorous and transparent” investigation.
Lebanese authorities blame Israel for the attack and have said the targeted devices were booby-trapped before they entered the country.
Hezbollah has vowed retribution and launched its own internal probe into the explosions.
“I am appalled by the breadth and impact of the attacks,” said Turk.
“These attacks represent a new development in warfare, where communication tools become weapons,” he added.
“This cannot be the new normal.”
Speaking at the Security Council, Lebanon’s top diplomat Abdallah Bou Habib called the attack “an unprecedented method of warfare in its brutality and terror.”
“Israel, through this terrorist aggression has violated the basic principles of international humanitarian law,” he said, calling Israel a “rogue state.”
‘Diplomatic efforts’
Israel has not commented on the device blasts but has said it will widen the scope of its war in Gaza to include the Lebanon front.
“I can tell you that we will do everything we can to target those terrorists,” Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon told reporters on Friday when asked about the device explosions.
He spoke after Israel announced it had killed the commander of Hezbollah’s elite unit in a strike on Beirut yesterday.
“We have no intention to enter a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, but we cannot continue the way it is,” Danon said.
Speaking at the Security Council, Danon said Israel will do “whatever it takes” to restore security in northern areas.
“If Hezbollah does not retreat from our border... through diplomatic efforts, Israel will be left with no choice but to use any means within our rights,” he said.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the body was “very concerned about the heightened escalation” across the Lebanon-Israel frontier after Friday’s Israeli strike on Beirut.
He called for “maximum restraint” from all sides.
Iran-backed Hezbollah is an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been fighting a war in Gaza since its October 7 attack on Israel.
For nearly a year, the focus of Israel’s firepower has been on Gaza but its troops have also been engaged in near-daily clashes with Hezbollah militants along its northern border.
Hundreds have been killed in Lebanon, most of them fighters, and dozens in Israel, including soldiers. — AFP
Saturday, 21 Sep 2024 11:47 AM MYT
NEW YORK, Sept 21 — The United Nations said yesterday the detonation of hand-held communication devices in Lebanon could constitute a war crime as Beirut’s top diplomat accused Israel of orchestrating what he called a “terror” attack.
The blasts that killed at least 37 people and wounded nearly 3,000 on Tuesday and Wednesday targeted communication devices used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Pagers and walkie-talkies exploded as their users were shopping in supermarkets, walking on streets and attending funerals, plunging the country into panic.
“International humanitarian law prohibits the use of booby-trap devices in the form of apparently harmless portable objects,” the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, told the Security Council during an emergency session on Lebanon requested by Algeria.
“It is a war crime to commit violence intended to spread terror among civilians,” he added, repeating his call for an “independent, rigorous and transparent” investigation.
Lebanese authorities blame Israel for the attack and have said the targeted devices were booby-trapped before they entered the country.
Hezbollah has vowed retribution and launched its own internal probe into the explosions.
“I am appalled by the breadth and impact of the attacks,” said Turk.
“These attacks represent a new development in warfare, where communication tools become weapons,” he added.
“This cannot be the new normal.”
Speaking at the Security Council, Lebanon’s top diplomat Abdallah Bou Habib called the attack “an unprecedented method of warfare in its brutality and terror.”
“Israel, through this terrorist aggression has violated the basic principles of international humanitarian law,” he said, calling Israel a “rogue state.”
‘Diplomatic efforts’
Israel has not commented on the device blasts but has said it will widen the scope of its war in Gaza to include the Lebanon front.
“I can tell you that we will do everything we can to target those terrorists,” Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon told reporters on Friday when asked about the device explosions.
He spoke after Israel announced it had killed the commander of Hezbollah’s elite unit in a strike on Beirut yesterday.
“We have no intention to enter a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, but we cannot continue the way it is,” Danon said.
Speaking at the Security Council, Danon said Israel will do “whatever it takes” to restore security in northern areas.
“If Hezbollah does not retreat from our border... through diplomatic efforts, Israel will be left with no choice but to use any means within our rights,” he said.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the body was “very concerned about the heightened escalation” across the Lebanon-Israel frontier after Friday’s Israeli strike on Beirut.
He called for “maximum restraint” from all sides.
Iran-backed Hezbollah is an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been fighting a war in Gaza since its October 7 attack on Israel.
For nearly a year, the focus of Israel’s firepower has been on Gaza but its troops have also been engaged in near-daily clashes with Hezbollah militants along its northern border.
Hundreds have been killed in Lebanon, most of them fighters, and dozens in Israel, including soldiers. — AFP
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kt comments:
UN may condemn but Israel doesn't care two hoots, knowing she's protected (blindly) by her US Ma-Cai (underling).
The US in turn is scared of her divine Lord and Master, thus blindly teflonises all crimes and violations her Lord & Master does - sickeningly chanting the obscene mantra that "Israel has a right to defend itself".
The US will also veto all sanctions against her Lord & Master, and will even go to war to defend the Joo-ish State, even to the US own disadvantage and loss of American interests - such is the Wankee religious madness.
UN is saying Hezbollah militant communications network and devices are protected under international law.
ReplyDeletePodah.
Mfer, could u tell yr twisted Zionist infested neurons & do some proper readings before u fart yr fouls?
Delete“It is a war crime to commit violence intended to spread terror among civilians,"
DeleteWhy has the fucking stupid UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, been silent on Hezbollah deadly attacks against Israeli civilians ?
Hezbollah arse-licker.
Equally, WHY all the cries about the Zionists in humane atrocities r been denied in the UNSC by the Yankee veto?
DeleteWhy is the UN silent on Hezbollah daily attacks against Israel ?
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a war crime ?
Isn't Lebanon acting as a rogue state ?
Israel has the right to Hentam back.
I support 100% Zion's right to exist...and its right to defend itself.
ReplyDeleteThe strike against Hezbollah operatives, especially after the 8,500 rockets that Hezbollah has launched into Zion , rendering 10% of their homeland impossible to inhabit... us a legitimate, legal military operation.
"rendering 10% of their (Zionist) homeland impossible to inhabit.."
ReplyDeleteWow… how compassionated r u!
What about more than 90% of the Gaza r now lied in rubbles & more than 41k Palestinian, mostly women & children, dead?
Oooop… yr mfering selectivity shows 'unabiased' balanced view!
"100% Zion's right to exist...and its right to defend itself"
ReplyDeleteMfer, ONLY apply when that inhuman Zionists have that right!
Right to defend itself?
Ooop… Hitler too has that right for his plan of Zion extermination. Ditto too the f*cke Jap 731 to carry out live human biological experiments!
If u declared yr mfering definition of right to defend!