The Legal Agenda is presenting a series of reports of war crimes committed by Israel in the context of its aggression against Lebanon. These reports are an attempt to document these crimes and pave the way for an independent and transparent investigation into them. They are based on preliminary information available at the time of their publication, and we hope that they can contribute to the necessary national efforts to document war crimes.

This alert was updated on 23 October 2024.

Facts: Southern Lebanon, 4-2013 October 2024

• The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that the Israeli army repeatedly targeted its positions in Southern Lebanon, wounding five personnel and causing material damage 
• UNIFIL has stated that any deliberate targeting of its forces constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006. It also said that the Israeli army has deliberately damaged its positions after asking it to vacate its positions along the Blue Line. However, UNIFIL forces insist on remaining in their positions to perform their duties.
• Israel has claimed that Hezbollah is active in the vicinity of UNIFIL’s positions and has advised UNIFIL forces to retreat five kilometers back from the border as soon as possible for their own safety. The Israeli prime minister has stated that “the best way to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel is for UNIFIL to heed Israel’s request and temporarily get out of harm’s way”.
• The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom have stated that any deliberate attack against UNIFIL goes against international humanitarian law and Resolution 1701.

Chain of Events

Maroun El Ras Position Threatened

• On October 4, an Irish newspaper reports that the Israeli army asked UNIFIL to withdraw from its position in Maroun El Ras, but UNIFIL refused.
• On October 6, UNIFIL condemns the Israeli army’s activity in the vicinity of its Maroun El Ras position and any actions that compromise the safety of United Nations peacekeepers.
• On October 7, media outlets report that Hezbollah has decided not to confront this activity in order to preserve the lives of the UNIFIL troops, whom Israel is using as human shields.

Labbouneh Position Targeted

• On October 9, the Israeli army deliberately fires at and disables the UNIFIL position’s perimeter-monitoring cameras in Labbouneh.
• On October 10, the Israeli army again fires at the Labbouneh position, hitting the entrance of the bunker where UNIFIL personnel are sheltering and damaging vehicles and a communications system.
• On October 11, an Israeli caterpillar hits and knocks down several walls on the perimeter of the Labbouneh position.
• Hezbollah says that it has repelled repeated attempts by the Israeli army to advance from Ras El Naqoura to the UNIFIL post in Labbouneh in order to take up position there.

Peacekeepers Wounded at the Naqoura Headquarters

• On October 9, the Israeli army deliberately fires upon the UNIFIL position in Ras El Naqoura, causing damage.
• On October 10, an Israeli Merkava tank fires toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, injuring two Indonesian personnel.
• On October 11, two Sri Lankan peacekeepers are injured by two explosions close to an observation tower at the Naqoura headquarters. The Israeli army says that its soldiers fired upon the “source of a threat” 50 meters from the UNIFIL position and that it had warned the UNIFIL personnel to remain in protected spaces.
• On October 11, a peacekeeper at the headquarters is hit by gunfire due to nearby military activity. The origin of the gunfire is not identified.

Ramyah Position Forcibly Entered

• On October 13, peacekeepers at the UNIFIL position in Ramyah observe three platoons of Israeli soldiers “crossing” into Lebanon. Two Merkava tanks then destroy the main gate and forcibly enter the position. The Israeli soldiers request multiple times that the base turn out its lights. The tanks leave after about 45 minutes. Several rounds are later fired near the position, emitting dense smoke that enters the base and causes 15 personnel skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions.
• The Israeli army says that one of its tanks backed into the position while evacuating wounded soldiers and a smokescreen was used to provide cover for the evacuation.

Kafarkila Position Attacked

• On October 16, an Israeli Merkava tank fires directly and deliberately at a UNIFIL observation tower in the Kafarkila area, damaging it and destroying two cameras.

Supplies Blocked

• On October 12, the Israeli army stops a “critical UNIFIL logistical movement” in the vicinity of Meiss El Jabal.
• On October 19, UNIFIL announced that its Meiss El Jabal position ran out of water because it had not received any supplies since September 29. According to the statement, accessing positions near the Blue Line has been “tough”.
• After delays from clearing the roads due to active fighting and warnings from the Israeli army of military activities, the position was finally resupplied with food, water, and essentials during the night. The peacekeepers were consequently able to continue their work.

Observation Tower Destroyed in Marwahin

• On October 20, an Israeli army bulldozer deliberately demolishes an observation tower and perimeter fence of a UNIFIL position in Marwahin.

The Laws of War

• Directing an attack on personnel and objects involved in UN peacekeeping missions is prohibited.
• Peacekeepers are treated as civilians as long as they are not taking a direct part in the hostilities.
• The Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel prohibits attacks on such personnel, their equipment, and their workplaces, as well as any action that prevents them from performing their duties.
• Employing weapons, projectiles, and material and methods of warfare of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering is prohibited.

Previous Reports of Israeli War Crimes in Lebanon

• War Crime Alert 1: The Targeting of an Islamic Health Organization Center and Its Staff, Bachoura, Beirut, 2 October 2024
• War Crime Alert 2: The Targeting of Salah Ghandour Hospital, Bint Jbeil, Nabatieh, 4 October 2024
• War Crime Alert 3: Rescue Operations Blocked in Mreijeh, Dahieh, Beirut, 4 October 2024 Onwards
• War Crime Alert 4: The Targeting of the Bint Jbeil Fire Station and Brigade, Baraachit, 6 October 2024

This article is an edited translation from Arabic.