Beirut: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern about the protection of civilians in Lebanon, as "Israeli military operations continue to kill and injure civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure.
According to Qatar News Agency, "at least 71 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon, since the ceasefire came into effect on 27 November last year," said Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Among the victims are 14 women and 9 children, while over 92,000 people remain displaced from their homes.
The southern suburbs of Beirut experienced shelling in early April for the first time since the ceasefire was established, with two separate incidents reported. Al-Kheetan highlighted that the targeted area was near two schools. On April 1, a strike on a residential building resulted in the deaths of two civilians and caused significant damage to surrounding structures.
Further reports indicate that two days later, Israeli airstrikes targeted a newly established medical center run by the Islamic Health Society in Naqoura, southern Lebanon. The center was completely destroyed, and two ambulances were damaged during the attack. Between April 4 and 8, multiple Israeli airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon resulted in at least six additional fatalities.
UN High Commissioner Volker Turk has called on all involved parties to adhere to the commitments made under the ceasefire, emphasizing the need for this temporary cessation of hostilities to transition into a permanent one. Al-Kheetan stressed the importance of ensuring full respect for and implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.