This week, numerous paging devices and walkie-talkies that were used by the extremist organization Hezbollah have been blown up in Lebanon.
UN Commissioner for Human Rights by Volker Türk according to which the device attacks carried out in Lebanon cannot be considered in accordance with international humanitarian law.
This week, numerous paging devices and walkie-talkies that were used by the extremist organization Hezbollah have been blown up in Lebanon. The attacks have killed at least 37 people and injured thousands.
Israel is believed to be behind the attacks, which has neither denied nor admitted its role.
– It is difficult to see that, under these circumstances, the main principles of international humanitarian law regarding separation, proportionality and precautionary measures would have been followed in the attacks in question, Türk told the UN Security Council.
According to Türk, detonating equipment intended to be harmless with explosives is in itself against international law.
– It is a war crime to carry out violence with the purpose of spreading terror among the civilian population, he added.
He demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the attacks. Türk also demanded responsibility for those who ordered the attacks and those who carried them out.
“The risk is a major conflict”
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo warned that the continuation of the attacks would significantly increase the risk of escalation in the region.
– The risk is a major conflict, compared to which the destruction and suffering seen so far would be small, DiCarlo said.
US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood called on all parties to refrain from actions that could lead to the outbreak of a destructive war in the region. According to Wood, the United States demands that all parties to the conflict comply with international humanitarian law and minimize the adverse effects of attacks on the civilian population.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, AP