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STORY: OHCHR / LEBANON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
TRT: 04:28
SOURCE: OHCHR / UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 24 APRIL 2026, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
24 APRIL 2026, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Med shot, press conference dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Our analysis of the large-scale attacks, shelling and ground incursions found that operations by Israeli forces in Lebanon involved cases of direct attacks on civilians, including medical personnel. We also documented several incidents in which Israeli strikes hit, and in some cases levelled, multi-storey residential buildings, killing entire families. Such strikes may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. Similar incidents have continued beyond this period – even after the present ceasefire was announced.”
4. Med shot, press conference dais
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Hezbollah fired reportedly unguided rockets into residential areas in Israel, damaging buildings, and other civilian infrastructure. These strikes may also constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
6. Med shot, press conference dais
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“In many of the Israeli attacks, no warnings, or no reasonably effective warnings, were given, preventing many civilians from evacuating safely. Israel’s vaguely communicated blanket evacuation warnings and displacement orders – covering almost 14 per cent of Lebanon’s territory – have led to the displacement of over a million people, according to the Lebanese authorities.”
8. Wide shot, briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We have continued to document frequent deadly attacks on healthcare workers, particularly first responders, and on journalists. On Wednesday, an Israeli strike killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in the south, and injured photographer Zeinab Faraj. Rescue teams, including the Lebanese Red Cross, attempting to reach them reportedly faced obstruction by the Israeli military. This included the use of a sound grenade and live fire targeting an ambulance, delaying access to the site.”
10. Close up, screen
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Medical personnel, whether military or civilian, and other civilians, including journalists, are protected, under international humanitarian law. Deliberately targeting them would amount to a war crime.”
12. Close up, screen
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk calls for prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into all incidents involving allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. Findings must be disclosed, and those responsible held to account. He also calls on all parties to ensure the ceasefire becomes a permanent cessation of hostilities and basis for a lasting peace.”
14. Med shot, press conference dais
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“These people are our eyes and ears on the ground. International humanitarian law requires that parties to an armed conflict take all necessary measures to minimise the impact of military operations on civilians, which includes journalists and media workers. In war zones, journalists and media workers perform a particularly vital function by informing the public about what's happening, and by doing so, they highlight the impact of the violence on civilians, and the humanitarian and other protection needs for civilians. They promote compliance with international law rules and the application of these rules. And they support accountability by documenting violations. This is why they must be protected and there must be accountability for all incidents where they are targeted.”
16. Various shots, briefing room
A new UN Human Rights report published today (24 Apr) analyses the deaths and displacement in Lebanon during the first three weeks of the recent escalation of hostilities, between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.
The report documents the significant, ongoing impact on a wide range of human rights, including the rights to life, health, education, food, housing, work, a safe environment, freedom of movement, and freedom of religion or belief.
“Our analysis of the large-scale attacks, shelling and ground incursions found that operations by Israeli forces in Lebanon involved cases of direct attacks on civilians, including medical personnel. We also documented several incidents in which Israeli strikes hit, and in some cases levelled, multi-storey residential buildings, killing entire families,” Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, told the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
“Such strikes may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. Similar incidents have continued beyond this period – even after the present ceasefire was announced.”
“Hezbollah fired reportedly unguided rockets into residential areas in Israel, damaging buildings, and other civilian infrastructure. These strikes may also constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law,” he added.
“In many of the Israeli attacks, no warnings, or no reasonably effective warnings, were given, preventing many civilians from evacuating safely. Israel’s vaguely communicated blanket evacuation warnings and displacement orders – covering almost 14 per cent of Lebanon’s territory – have led to the displacement of over a million people, according to the Lebanese authorities.”
Given the breadth and circumstances of these orders, they may amount to forced displacement, prohibited under international humanitarian law. Fifty-five localities in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, remain under such orders today. All displaced civilians who wish to return to their homes must be able to do so safely.
“We have continued to document frequent deadly attacks on healthcare workers, particularly first responders, and on journalists. On Wednesday, an Israeli strike killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in the south, and injured photographer Zeinab Faraj. Rescue teams, including the Lebanese Red Cross, attempting to reach them reportedly faced obstruction by the Israeli military. This included the use of a sound grenade and live fire targeting an ambulance, delaying access to the site,” the spokesperson said.
“Medical personnel, whether military or civilian, and other civilians, including journalists, are protected, under international humanitarian law. Deliberately targeting them would amount to a war crime.”
Civilian objects, including health facilities, schools and religious sites have been entirely destroyed or severely damaged.
Israeli attacks have burned or contaminated farmland, and disrupted or destroyed livelihoods, undermining the rights to food, work and to a healthy environment. There have been reports that Israeli forces have used ammunition containing white phosphorus which has particularly incendiary effects.
The UN Human Rights Office is concerned about rising communal tensions and discriminatory practices preventing displaced people from accessing housing and other essential services.
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk calls for prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into all incidents involving allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. Findings must be disclosed, and those responsible held to account,” Al-Kheetan said.
The UN Human Rights Chief urges all States to cease the sale, transfer, and diversion to any party of arms, munitions and other military equipment where there is a clear risk that they could be used to commit or facilitate the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
“He also calls on all parties to ensure the ceasefire becomes a permanent cessation of hostilities and basis for a lasting peace,” the spokesperson added.
Asked by a journalist at the briefing about the role of the media and attacks against them, Al-Kheetan replied: “These people are our eyes and ears on the ground. International humanitarian law requires that parties to an armed conflict take all necessary measures to minimise the impact of military operations on civilians, which includes journalists and media workers. In war zones, journalists and media workers perform a particularly vital function by informing the public about what's happening, and by doing so, they highlight the impact of the violence on civilians, and the humanitarian and other protection needs for civilians. They promote compliance with international law rules and the application of these rules. And they support accountability by documenting violations. This is why they must be protected and there must be accountability for all incidents where they are targeted.”
