Israel: Accused of forced displacement orders in Lebanon
Truce holds but 55 dead in Tripoli clashes
Israel is being accused by international organisations that it it breaching international law with the limited amount of time it gives to civilians to evacuate their homes before it bombs,
A report by ActionAid and Oxfam has accused Israel of ‘forced displacement orders’ which may amount to a “grave breach” of International Humanitarian Law. According to an article by The National News on December, 20, 2024, the aid agencies have stated that Israel’s evacuation orders were issued with extremely short notice and typically in the middle of the night.
International Humanitarian Law has three customary principles which states are expected to abide by. One of which is the principle of precaution which says that states must take precautionary measures to protect as many civilian lives as possible. This can include evacuation orders which inform civilians that military operations will take place in their area. However, it also states that sufficient time must be given to allow civilians to leave, and the displaced populations must be provided with access to basic services and secure accommodation.
Read: Report leaked showing Israel contemplates resettling Gazans
However, the National News article reports that evacuation orders, “were issued with only 15 to 45 minutes’ notice of strikes, while most – 62 per cent – came between 10pm and 4am. The report found that 223 towns across south Lebanon were subject to “mass forced displacement orders”. Orders were not clear, not targeted, and the insufficient time given to evacuate was impossible to comply with, pushing those already in vulnerable positions to the brink.
Israel began its bombing campaign on southern Lebanon to target what they describe as Hezbollah’s operational and military infrastructure. Three months ago, “Israel massively ramped up attacks on Hezbollah, leading to some 1.4 million people being displaced and well over 4,000 killed”. On November 27, 2024, a ceasefire was agreed to which requires both Israeli and Hezbollah forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon and, in their place, the Lebanese army will increase their presence.
Read: Why we should be skeptical about Lebanon ceasefire
Despite this, the Lebanese government have accused Israel of committing multiple breaches of the truce as they continue to bomb south Lebanon – albeit on a smaller scale. These reports along with the accusations by the Lebanese government come at a time when Israel has seen mounting pressure from international institutions to abide by international law. The International Criminal Court, which prosecutes individuals for breaches of International Humanitarian Law, also have issued warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu – and his former Defence Secretary – Yoav Gallant. Nevertheless, the west appears to remain a staunch ally of Israel and western weapons continue to be used by Israel in their military campaigns.
The National News
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