UN eyeing potential Israeli war crimes in Lebanon

High Commissioner Turk discusses displacement and trauma in Lebanon, asserting Israel is violating international law.Published On 27 Jul 202627 Jul 2026United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has accused Israel of committing large-scale violations of human rights in Lebanon that might be classed as war crimes.Turk said on Monday during a visit to Lebanon that his office had recorded violations of international law in the country, and he called on the Israeli military to end its persistent shelling and demolitions in southern Lebanon.“I am struck by the widespread damage and compounded suffering that I have seen,” Turk said in a statement. “The trauma, frustration and despair are palpable – but so too is the demand for justice.”Despite a ceasefire agreement sealed in April, “the Israeli military continues to kill and injure people in Lebanon amid continued air strikes and ground operations”, Turk said.Visiting a school repurposed as a shelter and hosting around 1,000 displaced people, he rated some of the Israeli military’s violations as “possibly amounting to war crimes”.“This is the second or third cycle of displacement for many. Some told me they attempted t...