NEW YORK: Lebanon has officially lodged complaints with the United Nations against Israel, citing repeated attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and disruptions to the country’s education system due to ongoing aggression. The Lebanese government is calling for an international response to what it describes as violations of international law and serious infringements on education.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in New York submitted the complaints to both UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council. Lebanon alleges that the actions of Israel, referred to in the complaint as the Zionist entity, include targeted attacks on UNIFIL positions in southern Lebanon and demands that peacekeeping forces evacuate their posts, which contradicts their mandated duty by the Security Council.
The complaints highlight that these attacks not only breach international law but also undermine the mission of UNIFIL as
outlined in Security Council Resolution 1701. Lebanon is urging the UN to take a definitive stand against these actions, which it equates to war crimes, and to hold Israel accountable to deter further violations.
In a related complaint, Lebanon addressed the impact of Israeli aggression on its education sector, noting that ongoing hostilities have deprived approximately 1.4 million students of their basic right to education. This situation poses a dire threat to the future prospects of these students, impacting their psychological well-being and academic performance in the long term. Lebanon is appealing to the international community for immediate intervention to halt these aggressions and protect educational rights, which it views as crucial for the nation’s stability and development.
The rise in tensions and the expanded scope of hostilities, including increased aerial and artillery bombardment by Israel, have reportedly led to significant casualties and displacement within Lebanon, affecting the capital
Beirut and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.