On World Humanitarian Day, the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) recalls that the protection of humanitarian and medical personnel is not discretionary, but a binding obligation under international humanitarian law. In this context, this year’s #ActForHumanity campaign highlights the responsibility of states and parties to conflict to strengthen the protection of humanitarian workers, respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), and ensure adequate humanitarian funding to meet growing needs. 

This year’s observance takes place amid the continued occurrence of violations of international humanitarian law. In particular, in the context of the resumption of large-scale hostilities since 2 March 2026, reports indicate that humanitarian and medical personnel in Lebanon have been killed, injured, and subjected to restrictions and obstruction while carrying out their duties, raising serious concerns regarding repeated violations of international humanitarian law. 

CLDH has documented repeated attacks affecting medical personnel and infrastructure, including strikes on health centers, the killing of paramedics, and the apparent use of “double-tap” tactics, in which rescuers are targeted while assisting victims of an initial strike. Its 2025 report, “Israeli Attacks Against Medical Personnel and Facilities in Lebanon: War Crimes to be Investigated and Prosecuted,” found that attacks on medical workers, facilities, civil defense centers and personnel, and humanitarian workers disrupted essential health services and caused long-term humanitarian harm. Its 2026 report, “Israeli Systematic Elimination of Life: A Focus on Attacks on Medical and Civil Defense Centers in Lebanon,” further documented a pattern of attacks against clearly identifiable medical personnel, ambulances, hospitals, and civil defense centers between 8 October 2023 and 27 November 2024, based on first-hand testimonies, field documentation, and official Lebanese data.  

These findings, including direct strikes on clearly marked ambulances during rescue missions, the destruction of primary healthcare centers, and the disruption of life-saving services, indicate conduct that may amount to grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, serious violations of customary international humanitarian law, and war crimes. 

According to OCHA, 4,230 people were killed and 12,179 injured in Lebanon between 2 March and 25 June 2026. Health workers have been among those most affected, with 135 killed and 406 injured, while numerous health facilities have reportedly been damaged or forced to suspend operations. These figures underscore the scale of harm to protected persons and objects. Under the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, medical and humanitarian personnel, medical units, transport, and facilities must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Intentionally directing attacks against such personnel or objects or launching attacks that fail to distinguish between civilian objects and military objectives, constitute war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. CLDH stresses that the documented attacks in Lebanon raise serious concerns regarding compliance with the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, as well as the prohibition on attacks against persons hors de combat and those engaged in medical or humanitarian functions. 

The protection crisis is compounded by severe funding shortages that impede the realization of basic rights and humanitarian guarantees. As of June 2026, the UN Flash Appeal for Lebanon was only around one-third funded, despite seeking $639.9 million to assist 1.4 million people. More than 130,000 displaced people remain in collective shelters, while nearly one in four people in Lebanon faces crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. 

 

CLDH further warns that the 26 June 2026 Lebanon–Israel framework agreement must not be implemented in a manner that prolongs displacement or conditions return on political or security benchmarks unrelated to the rights and needs of affected communities. Any political settlement must respect the rights of displaced persons to safe, voluntary, informed, and dignified return, and must preserve victims’ rights to truth, justice, effective remedy, and reparation. 

 

Accordingly, CLDH calls on: 

Lebanese authorities 

  • Pursue all available avenues for accountability under international law, including accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court or acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction through an Article 12(3) declaration. 

  • Document, preserve, and share evidence of alleged violations in accordance with international standards, including chain-of-custody safeguards and victim- and witness-protection measures. 

  • Adopt and enforce measures to protect humanitarian and medical personnel operating in Lebanon, including coordination mechanisms, security guarantees, and accountability for interference with protected functions. 

  • Ensure that displaced persons receive timely, adequate, and non-discriminatory assistance consistent with applicable human rights and humanitarian obligations 

Parties to the conflict 

  • Immediately cease all attacks directed at civilians, civilian objects, humanitarian and medical personnel, medical units, ambulances, and humanitarian infrastructure. 

  • Comply fully with the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, and refrain from any conduct that would render protected persons or objects the target of attack. 

  • Ensure rapid, safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Lebanon, including for medical evacuation, rescue operations, and delivery of essential assistance. 

  • Cooperate fully with independent, impartial, and effective investigations, including providing access to relevant information, locations, and witnesses. 

 

UN Member States 

  • Publicly condemn attacks against humanitarian and medical personnel and reinforce the obligation of Israel to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. 

  • Fully fund the 2026 Lebanon Flash Appeal and ensure that humanitarian financing is timely, flexible, and commensurate with assessed needs. 

  • Support independent accountability mechanisms capable of investigating, identifying those responsible, and enabling prosecution where the evidence supports criminal liability. 

  • Support evidence-preservation initiatives, including forensic documentation, open-source investigations, and survivor- and witness-centered reporting pathways.