Israeli destruction in southern Lebanon ‘must be investigated as war crimes’: Amnesty
The Israeli military’s extensive and deliberate destruction of civilian property and farmland in southern Lebanon must be investigated as a war crime, global rights group Amnesty International has said.
It comes after the group released a new report, Nowhere To Return: Israel’s Extensive Destruction of Southern Lebanon, which documents how Israeli forces used explosives and bulldozers to devastate homes, mosques, cemeteries, roads, parks and sports grounds across 24 municipalities.
Amnesty said more than 10,000 structures were heavily damaged or destroyed between the start of Israel’s ground invasion on October 1, 2024 and January 26, 2025. Much of the destruction took place after November 27, when a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect.
“The Israeli military’s destruction of civilian homes, property and land in southern Lebanon rendered entire areas uninhabitable and ruined countless lives,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns.
“Their blatant disregard for the communities they have destroyed is abhorrent. Where these acts of destruction were committed intentionally or recklessly, they must be investigated as war crimes.”
Australia’s top diplomat says Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital ‘horrific’
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire in a statement released after Israel’s deadly attack on Nasser Hospital on Monday.
“What we’ve seen overnight with the attack on a hospital is horrific, and what we would say to Prime Minister Netanyahu is you should heed the call of the world and agree to a ceasefire,” the minister said in a statement, according to the ABC broadcaster.
“You should take the advice of your own military and agree to a ceasefire. This war must stop,” Wong added.
China condemns Israeli strike on Gaza hospital that killed 21 including 5 journalists
“We are shocked and condemn the fact that medical personnel and journalists have once again unfortunately lost their lives in the conflict,” China Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters. “We express our condolences to the victims and our sympathies to their families.”
“Israel should immediately stop its military operations in Gaza, achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, fully restore the entry of humanitarian supplies, prevent a larger-scale humanitarian crisis, and work to ease tensions as quickly as possible,” Guo added.
US risks liability for war crimes in Gaza: HRW
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that US military and intelligence personnel assisting Israeli forces in Gaza could face legal responsibility for war crimes.
The group said Washington’s involvement in operations, including providing intelligence for Israeli attacks and conducting planning with Israeli forces, has made the United States a party to the conflict since October 2023.
“The direct US participation in military operations with Israeli forces means that as a matter of international law, the United States has been and currently is a party to the armed conflict in Gaza,” said Sarah Yager, HRW’s Washington director. “US military and intelligence personnel and contractors assisting Israeli forces who commit war crimes may at some point find themselves facing criminal prosecution for atrocities in Gaza.”
US officials have acknowledged supplying Israel with actionable intelligence for strikes and extensive coordination in targeting Hamas leaders. The Trump administration has also increased support, approving the release of 2,000lb bombs that had previously been withheld by President Joe Biden.
“International law holds a country legally complicit when it knowingly assists another nation to commit serious laws-of-war violations and other abuses,” Yager added.
