More than a million people in Lebanon have been displaced in little more than three weeks. Forced displacement orders cover around 14% of Lebanon’s territory, including large parts of southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
From the occupied Palestinian territory to Lebanon and in the wider region, ActionAid warns that the State of Israel is repeating the same pattern across borders: causing forced displacement, destroying homes and vital infrastructure, killing unarmed women, children and men, and isolating communities from one another. This is driving mass expulsion in Lebanon and could amount to war crimes.
Military operations are not a licence to permanently drive people from their homes. Under international law, any displacement of civilians must be temporary, and people must be allowed to return. However, Israel’s Minister of Defense, Israel Katz last week stated that many thousands of Lebanese people in the south “will not return […] until security is guaranteed for the residents of the north” of Israel, raising grave concerns that this mass forced displacement is not meant to be temporary and could have permanent consequences.
Michelle Higelin, Executive Director of ActionAid Australia said: “Israeli forces are acting with complete impunity across the region, all in pursuit of what we fear is territorial expansion. Government leaders know exactly what international law requires. The problem is that they are not using all tools available including ceasing military co-operation and using diplomatic leverage, political pressure, sanctions, and other legal measures to stop the State of Israel’s continued violations. Israel is taking this as a green light to deepen its strategy of expulsion, widespread destruction and attacks on civilians.”
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Contact
Stephanie Wulf, Senior Communications Manager, ActionAid Australia
+61 (0)456 952 836