The Lebanese government intends to submit an urgent complaint to the UN Security Council against Israel after 11 Lebanese civilians were killed in Israeli raids within 24 hours.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned “the prolonged Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon and the new massacres it is committing against Lebanese citizens,” pointing to the killing of seven civilians from one family in the southern city of Nabatieh in Israeli attacks on Wednesday.
For his part, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called on the United Nations and human rights organizations to take action “to stop the Israeli killing machine.”
“The bloodshed in Nabatieh, and prior to that in Houla, Al-Souwaneh, and Adaisseh, is a call to action for international envoys, the United Nations, and human rights organizations, not merely to condemn, but to urgently and immediately act to stop the Israeli killing machine and restrain the leaders of the occupation entity who are pushing the region towards a war with dire consequences,” Berri added.
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, expressed grave concern, saying: “The recent surge in hostilities and the reported airstrikes resulting in increasing civilian casualties are extremely concerning. Among the victims are children, mothers, and grandparents. The loss of innocent life is lamentable.”
He continued: “The rules of war are clear: Parties must protect civilians and these rules must be upheld. They are not a target.”
In a statement, the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, denounced the “massacre” in Nabatieh.
He called on the international community to “take immediate action to curb Nazi-Zionism and stop the massacres being committed against the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples.”