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The United Nations human rights chief said Wednesday that he would deploy an independent mission to Lebanon to collect information and evidence on alleged violations committed since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began March 2.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the mission had been agreed upon with the Lebanese government and would examine alleged abuses by the parties to the conflict.
The team will assess possible violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and related legal obligations.
“Accountability cannot be overstated,” Turk told journalists. “Prompt and independent investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law must be conducted.”
Turk said he had agreed with the Lebanese government to conduct an impartial and independent assessment in the country.
“I will soon be deploying a team to collect information and evidence on alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law, and violations of international humanitarian law and related law committed by the parties to the armed conflict in the country since March 2,” he said.
Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel following the Feb. 28 killing of Iran’s supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli attacks.
The Hezbollah rocket fire was followed by Israeli strikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon.
Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,600 people and displaced more than 1 million others.
On the Israeli side, 29 soldiers and one civilian contractor have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.
Neither Israel nor Hezbollah has respected a ceasefire first announced in mid-April.
Fighting has continued despite the agreement, causing further civilian casualties and displacement.
Turk said conflicts around the world had produced “unimaginable civilian harm, suffering and displacement,” while their economic and environmental effects were being felt internationally.
“We have seen the economic and environmental consequences of fighting reverberate across the world,” he said.
“The world needs to contain this fallout—de-escalation, restraint and the protection of civilians must be the priority.”
The planned mission will gather evidence and information concerning alleged violations by the parties involved in the Lebanon conflict.
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