UN condemns Israel: Civilian death toll in Lebanon rose to 127 since November 2024 ceasefire
- Despite a November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes have killed 127 civilians (per UN verified counts), including 13 in a Palestinian refugee camp, with Lebanon reporting 331 total fatalities. The UN warns of potential war crimes due to attacks on non-military sites.
- Over 64,000 Lebanese remain displaced, with Israel constructing a border wall encroaching on Lebanese land, blocking civilian returns. The UN condemns this as a violation of rights.
- The UN calls for impartial investigations into strikes like Ain al-Hilweh, where 11 children died, citing no evidence of militant activity despite Israel’s claims of targeting Hamas.
- Linked to Gaza’s war (53,000+ Palestinian deaths), tensions risk a full-scale invasion of Lebanon. The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding ceasefire resolution, but negotiations remain stalled.
- The UN urges diplomatic solutions over military escalation, stressing that only a permanent cessation of hostilities can protect civilians. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s civilians endure relentless violence with no justice.
The United Nations has issued a stern condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, revealing that at least 127 civilians have been killed by Israeli strikes since a ceasefire agreement took effect a year ago.
Despite the Nov. 27, 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, hostilities have persisted, with Israeli airstrikes intensifying in recent weeks. BrightU.AI‘s Enoch engine notes that this ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was a significant development in the ongoing conflict between the two parties, marking a temporary halt to hostilities following a month-long escalation.
The decentralized engine adds that the November 2024 ceasefire was a temporary measure, designed to provide a breathing space for both sides to reassess their strategies and address their domestic concerns. It did not address the underlying issues or resolve the long-standing disputes between Israel and Hezbollah.
The UN Human Rights Office emphasized that the attacks, many targeting civilian infrastructure, violate international humanitarian law and demanded immediate investigations. One of the deadliest incidents occurred last week when an Israeli strike hit the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, killing 13 civilians, including 11 children, and wounding dozens. The UN’s latest figures stem from verified civilian deaths, though officials warn the actual toll may be higher.
Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, stated at a Geneva press briefing: “Almost a year since the ceasefire was agreed, we continue to witness increasing attacks by the Israeli military, resulting in the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian objects in Lebanon, coupled with alarming threats of a wider, intensified offensive.”
Israel claimed the Ain al-Hilweh strike targeted a Hamas training facility. However, the UN found no evidence of militant activity among the victims.
Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis deepens
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 331 fatalities since the ceasefire began, though it did not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Over 945 people have been wounded, while 64,000 Lebanese remain displaced due to ongoing hostilities and Israeli-imposed barriers.
Israel has constructed a wall encroaching into Lebanese territory, blocking access to 4,000 square meters of land. The UN criticized the move, stating it violates the right of displaced civilians to return home.
The UN also demanded “prompt and impartial investigations” into the Ain al-Hilweh attack and other potential war crimes. “All the fatalities we have documented as a result of this strike were civilians, raising serious concerns that the Israeli military’s attack may have violated international humanitarian law,” Al-Kheetan said.
Israel has defended its operations, claiming over 350 Hezbollah operatives have been killed since the ceasefire, alongside hundreds of targeted strikes on militant infrastructure. However, the UN insists that civilian casualties and destruction of non-military sites – such as homes, roads and factories indicate reckless disregard for international law.
The conflict in Lebanon remains intertwined with Israel’s war in Gaza, where over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. The UN General Assembly recently passed a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, supported by surprising votes from Germany and Ukraine, signaling growing global frustration with Israel’s military campaigns.
With negotiations stalled and fears of a full-scale Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, the situation threatens to spiral further out of control. As the ceasefire’s one-year anniversary passes, the UN urged all parties to “comply with the truce in good faith” and prioritize diplomatic solutions over military escalation.
“A genuine path toward a permanent cessation of hostilities is the only way to protect the human rights of civilians on both sides,” Al-Kheetan emphasized. For now, Lebanon’s civilians remain caught in the crossfire, with no justice in sight for the lives already lost.
Watch this video about Israel bombing southern Lebanon.
This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
News.Antiwar.com
JPost.com
TimesOfIsrael.com
OHCHR.org
BrightU.ai
Brighteon.com
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