Beirut: U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk concluded a visit to Lebanon on Monday with a warning that his office had documented widespread violations of international humanitarian law during the latest conflict, some of which may amount to war crimes and, in certain circumstances, other international crimes. Speaking at U.N. House in Beirut, Trk said Lebanon had made meaningful progress over the past year on judicial, institutional, and disability rights reforms under its new leadership. However, he said renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah earlier this year had severely disrupted the reform agenda and inflicted devastating consequences on civilians.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Trk said he was deeply struck by the scale of destruction and human suffering he witnessed during his visit, describing trauma, frustration, and demands for justice as widespread. He expressed solidarity with victims and said his office continued to document the human cost of the conflict. He said ongoing Israeli air strikes, shelling, and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas had caused extensive civilian casualties, widespread destruction, and mass displacement, while rocket fire launched by Hezbollah toward populated areas in Israel had also resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Lebanese authorities report more than 4,300 people killed and 12,200 injured in Lebanon since March 2, including over 135 healthcare workers and numerous journalists and media personnel. Trk noted that despite an initial cessation of hostilities announced on April 17 and subsequent de-escalation efforts, Israeli military operations in Lebanon had continued. The High Commissioner said his office had documented extensive violations of international humanitarian law, some of which could constitute war crimes. He described visits to displacement shelters where many residents had already been displaced multiple times and recounted testimony from people who had returned to find their villages destroyed. He said entire communities south of the Litani River had reportedly been leveled or rendered uninhabitable, with homes, schools, healthcare facilities, water networks, electricity infrastructure, places of worship, and farmland destroyed.
Trk voiced concern over the future of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ahead of the expiry of its mandate later this year, stressing that civilian protection should remain central to any future arrangements. He also expressed concern over the continued presence of Israeli forces in parts of southern Lebanon, saying patterns of widespread displacement and the denial of civilians' return could amount to international crimes.
An independent and impartial assessment mission, agreed with the Lebanese government in June, is now operating in Lebanon to collect information and evidence on alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by parties to the conflict since March 2. Trk praised Lebanese civil society organizations for documenting the impact of the conflict while also advocating for the rights of marginalized groups, including refugees, migrants, LGBTQ persons, and people with disabilities. He acknowledged progress following Lebanon's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but said implementation remained incomplete. He also expressed hope for further progress toward decriminalizing same-sex relations.
Turning to the sixth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, Trk called for justice for victims and accountability for those responsible, saying judicial reforms aimed at strengthening the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law would be essential to restoring confidence in state institutions. He urged urgent attention to prison and detention conditions. Trk welcomed a draft law to abolish the death penalty, encouraging Parliament to adopt it swiftly, which he said would make Lebanon the first country in the region to abolish capital punishment.
He stressed that reconstruction should go beyond rebuilding infrastructure and focus on restoring trust between the state and all citizens. Rebuilding Lebanon's social contract, he said, requires full respect for the dignity and rights of every community, alongside the strengthening of Lebanese state institutions, full respect for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and freedom from external interference.
During a question-and-answer session, Trk said the protection of civilians remained the primary responsibility of the parties to the conflict - Israel and Hezbollah - under international humanitarian law. While the Office of the High Commissioner has no enforcement powers, he said its documentation and assessment mission would help establish the factual record and support future accountability efforts. He said investigators were examining what he described as a troubling pattern of mass displacement and the destruction of villages, including whether such conduct could constitute international crimes.
Asked about accountability, Trk said it depended on gathering credible evidence and ensuring victims' voices were heard. He pointed to potential domestic legal avenues, including pending legislation related to international humanitarian law, as well as international mechanisms based on universal jurisdiction in countries that recognize the principle. Trk also expressed hope that upcoming talks in Rome on Aug. 4 would help reduce tensions, ensure respect for international law, and secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces. He added that his office continued to enjoy access to southern Lebanon and relied on a rigorous methodology requiring information to be independently verified by at least three separate sources before being included in its findings.