Lebanon accused Israel of violating the basic principles of international humanitarian law, including committing war crimes on its territory.
„We document every violation of international humanitarian law to the best of our ability. In my opinion, there is no doubt that Israel is committing war crimes, violating the Geneva Conventions, starting with the two basic principles of international humanitarian law: the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians and the principle of proportionality. "Israel does not respect any of these principles of IHL," Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri told Sky News.
One of the most worrying aspects, Mitri said, was the threat by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, that the suburb of the Lebanese capital, Dahiyeh, home to the Shiite movement Hezbollah, would soon follow the fate of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, which was reduced to rubble after sustained Israeli bombardment. "He said it loud and clear," the Lebanese deputy prime minister said.
According to the Lebanese government's Emergency Situations Headquarters, the total number of civilians killed since the start of the military escalation has reached 1,116, with 3,229 injured. “Among the victims of the Israeli attacks are 120 children and 81 women“, the headquarters announced on March 26. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Interior, 1,049,328 people have fled the war zone towards Beirut and the north of the country.