Lebanon has taken a historic step towards seeking justice for war crimes committed on its territory by declaring its acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move comes after six months of accusations against Israel for repeatedly violating Lebanon’s sovereignty and committing violations of international law. The Israeli army and Hezbollah group have been engaged in cross-border conflict, with ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza resulting in at least 70 civilian deaths, including children, rescue personnel, and journalists.
Among the journalists killed was Issam Al-Abdullah, a Reuters correspondent who lost his life in an Israeli tank attack on October 13th. In response to these atrocities, the Lebanese caretaker government made a decision to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a declaration to the ICC, accepting its jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes committed on Lebanese territory since October 7th.
Furthermore, the government requested an independent research institute’s report be included in their complaints to the United Nations regarding Israeli violations. The report focused specifically on the killing of Issam Al-Abdullah and was based on evidence collected from the scene as well as video and audio materials. Despite not being full members of the ICC, Lebanon’s declaration would allow the court to investigate crimes and hold trials within a specified time frame.
Human Rights Watch praised this move as a historic step towards seeking justice for war crimes committed in Lebanon. They urged the foreign minister to quickly formalize this step by submitting the declaration to the ICC. This action serves as a reminder that those who violate laws of war may face consequences in a courtroom.
