A strike in the suburbs of Beirut, November 2024. Lebanon: UN rights chief calls for immediate ceasefire ‘on all fronts’ Peace and Security
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday joined calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Meanwhile, a decision by the Israeli government on an agreement with Hezbollah militants to stop fighting is reportedly expected today.
“The High Commissioner reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire to stop the killing and destruction,” said Jeremy Lawrence, a spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
“Israeli military action in Lebanon has resulted in significant civilian casualties, including the deaths of entire families, mass displacement and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, raising serious concerns about the principles of proportionality, distinction and necessity [under international law],” he added.
Civilian Casualties
An airstrike on Beirut on Saturday destroyed a residential building, killing nearly 30 people and wounding more than 65, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In total, 84 people died in Lebanon that day, according to authorities.
At the same time, Hezbollah continues to fire rockets into northern Israel, causing civilian casualties, the OHCHR representative said. Indiscriminate attacks are displacing thousands of Israeli civilians, which is “unacceptable,” he stressed. According to Lawrence, the only way to stop the suffering on both sides is an immediate ceasefire on all fronts.
Casualties Continue to Rise
An average of 250 people were killed per week in Lebanon in November as a result of fighting. The death toll has risen to more than 3,700 since the conflict began in October 2023, OCHA said. In turn, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned the killings of at least nine children on November 22 and 23.
According to the UN, the death toll of children has reached 240 since October 2023, when Hezbollah shelling intensified in response to Israeli bombing of Gaza.
Humanitarian Aid
Despite the dangerous situation, the UN and humanitarian partners continue to work on the ground. As of November 19, UNICEF had conducted 14 humanitarian missions in hard-to-reach areas of Lebanon, home to about 50,000 people. The UN is also helping to house families who fled their homes and were forced to sleep on the streets of Beirut.
On Monday evening, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had delivered 48 tons of medical supplies to support the treatment of 300,000 people suffering from chronic diseases.
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Meanwhile, in New York, the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is holding a special meeting in honor of the upcoming International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which is celebrated on November 29. Committee Chair Cheikh Niang, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the UN, opened the meeting at the Economic and Social Council, noting that this year’s observance comes amid “unprecedented suffering.”
General Assembly President Philemon Young called for efforts to “restore hope and trust” among Palestinians.
“We can start building that future here today by demanding a ceasefire, the immediate return of the hostages, and the start of negotiations for a lasting peace,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, his Deputy Amina Mohammed said nothing justified either the Hamas attacks on October 7 or the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
Repeating the call for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages, Mohammed, on behalf of the head of the UN, stressed the need to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, which has been confirmed by decisions of the International Court of Justice and the General Assembly. Along with this, progress must be made towards a two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.