On March 1, 2026, Israel started a series of wider attacks consisting of simultaneous airstrikes on different areas of the South, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, and Beirut's Southern Suburbs. While the Israeli side has been violating the November 2024 ceasefire every day according to the Lebanese Center for Human Rights’ monitoring, they widened the scope of the attacks to include Beirut’s Southern suburbs and more villages in the Bekaa and South, amid the ongoing conflict and instability in the region. According to Lebanese Authorities’ latest numbers, and as of Wednesday March 4, 2026, more than 83,000 have been displaced from their homes. Additionally, this number is projected to grow, with recurrent warnings from Israel to evacuate more than 80 southern villages, in a tactic deemed inadequate by Amnesty International that highlighted during the 2024 war, that these warnings do not absolve Israel of its obligations under international humanitarian law to never target civilians and to take all possible measures to minimize harm to them. Additionally, on March 4, 2026, Israel ordered the evacuation of all residents South of the Litani River, effectively threatening around 1/3 of the Lebanese population. 

In fact, under international humanitarian law, the conduct of hostilities is governed by three fundamental principles: the principle of distinction between civilians and military objectives, the principle of proportionality, and the obligation to take all necessary precautionary measures. The mere issuance of a warning or notification by the Israeli authorities is not sufficient to render an attack lawful, particularly where no effective precautionary measures are taken beyond that warning and where the harm caused to civilians is excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage. 

According to the Ministry of health’s latest reports, and until the morning of march 5, 2026, there has been 77 deaths and 527 wounded, as a direct result of Israel’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, which has been a pattern since the conflict in 2023, and war on Lebanon in 2024. As a matter of fact, between October 2023 and the November 27, 2024 ceasefire, Israeli strikes killed more than 3,961 people in Lebanon, including 736 women, 222 health and rescue workers, and 248 children, based on the Lebanese Health Ministry.   

Additionally, Israel has started a ground incursion on the morning of March 3, citing security concerns for their citizen, while displacing thousands of Lebanese citizens violating Lebanon’s territorial integrity and Article 2 of the UN Charted which states the following: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” 

 

The Lebanese Center for Human Rights unequivocally condemns Israel's targeting of residential areas, and unlawful killing of civilians, in violation of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. CLDH emphasizes that these attacks represent a systematic pattern of violations and a disregard for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. 

 

Thus, CLDH calls for the following: 

To the International Community: 

  • Demand immediate cessation of all military operations and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory 

  • Establish a fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international humanitarian law, including the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure 

  • Provide urgent humanitarian assistance to displaced populations and affected communities 

  • Support Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity through diplomatic and material means 

  • Pressure for full implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701 (2006) and the November 2024 ceasefire agreement 

  • Ensure protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and medical personnel as required under IHL 

 

To the Lebanese Government: 

  • Systematic documentation of all violations by the judiciary for legal proceedings in Arabic 

  • Provide immediate support to displaced populations irrespective of gender, and legal status, including shelter, medical care, and basic necessities 

  • File a formal complaint with the UN Security Council and UN Human Rights Council 

  • Activate universal jurisdiction in third countries to prosecute perpetrators