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Israeli evacuation ‘warnings’ for Lebanese ‘misleading and inadequate’: Amnesty
Inadequate, and in some cases misleading – that’s how Amnesty International has described the evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli army to residents of southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
In a statement, the rights group said the orders do not absolve Israel of its obligations under international law to never target civilians and take all possible measures to minimise harm to them.
“Our analysis shows that not only did the warnings issued by the Israeli military include misleading maps, but they were also issued at short notice – in one instance less than 30 minutes before strikes began – in the middle of the night, via social media, when many people would be asleep, offline or not following media reports,” Agnes Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary-general, said.
“Furthermore, instructing the residents of entire towns and villages in south Lebanon to evacuate is an overly general warning that is inadequate and raises questions around whether this is intended to create the conditions for mass displacement.
“Regardless of the efficacy of the warnings, they do not mean that Israel can treat any remaining civilians as targets. People who choose to stay in their homes or are unable to leave because members of their household have limited mobility, due to disability, age or other reasons, continue to be protected by international humanitarian law.”
A displaced child holds her sibling, at the city’s downtown business district, where their families shelter, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday
US moves 1,000 citizens out of war-hit Lebanon via Turkey
More than 1,000 Americans and their dependents have fled Lebanon on board US-chartered flights in the past week, arriving in Turkey for a temporary stay, the top US diplomat in Istanbul says.
As Israel ramped up its ground and air assault on Lebanon in recent weeks, the US and several other countries have for now relied on commercial and state-booked flights to get citizens out, especially via Turkey.
“It’s the fastest, safest way to get Americans out of harm’s way,” Consul General Julie Eadeh said in an interview in Istanbul. “The security situation is dynamic, so we have been planning for months for all contingencies. Given the airport in Beirut remains operational and open, our focus is on facilitating departures by air.”
Ten of 12 US-chartered flights from Beirut have arrived in Istanbul, carrying 1,025 citizens and immediate family members since October 2, according to another US official. Those interviewed at the airport said they were shaken by bombings and feared for their lives.
“It’s not safe for her there,” Nadine El Shab said of the baby daughter she held in her arms, adding she would next travel to Michigan.
Belgium says 111 people evacuated from Lebanon
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib says that a Belgian military plane has evacuated 111 people from Lebanon. The flight from Beirut to Brussels was carrying 58 Belgian nationals and those with residence rights and 53 Europeans, Lahbib said in a post on X.
Many countries have sought to get their citizens out of Lebanon in the last two weeks after Isreal drastically ramped up its bombing campaign on Lebanon and began ground attacks.
Lebanon’s only commercial international airport remains open amid threats to bomb it from the Israeli army.
