Beirut: The Municipality of Bint Jbeil issued a statement warning that the ongoing destruction of homes and neighborhoods in the city represents a systematic campaign of devastation and called on Lebanese authorities to take immediate action.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the statement emphasized that the city is witnessing the continuous execution of a systematic policy of urban destruction by Israeli forces, targeting homes and neighborhoods across Bint Jbeil. The statement highlighted that this is not just a military operation but a comprehensive assault that includes demolition and destruction of buildings, involving more than 20 heavy excavators in an organized effort to erase the city's landmarks.
The municipality's statement further alleged that the destruction process includes removing household belongings before buildings are destroyed, as well as extracting iron and construction materials from the rubble. It declared that this systematic destruction is a clear war crime aimed at uprooting residents and altering the urban identity of Bint Jbeil.
The statement issued a call to the Lebanese government, the presidency, and all concerned authorities, stating that silence and inaction are no longer acceptable. It urged the state to take immediate and effective measures to protect the city and to raise the issue in international forums. The municipality expressed its rejection of Bint Jbeil and southern Lebanon being at the mercy of the Israeli war machine while the state issues only weak statements of condemnation.
The municipality questioned the national priorities, emphasizing the need to protect the properties of southern residents, who have invested their blood, hard work, and years of sacrifice. It concluded by asserting that any political process must prioritize the protection of the people of the south and their legitimate rights. Bint Jbeil, known for its resistance against aggressors, will continue to uphold its rights and pursue legal and humanitarian channels against these alleged crimes.