A group of 23 UN human rights experts has issued an urgent call for all UN member states to immediately suspend arms transfers to Israel, condemning the country's ongoing military operations in Lebanon.
The statement, published through the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), was signed by prominent figures including Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Mai Soto, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
The experts described Israel's strikes on Lebanon as the largest coordinated wave of bombardment on the country since 1980. In just 10 minutes on April 8, hours after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire announcement, Israel struck over 150 sites across Lebanon, killing at least 303 people and wounding 1,150 others, with hundreds still buried under rubble.
The experts noted that the strikes not only hit civilian infrastructure in densely populated parts of Beirut but also caused severe environmental damage, releasing pollutants into air and water systems. Since Israel's latest escalation began on March 2, over 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than 1 million displaced from their homes.
The UN experts described the attacks as a blatant violation of the UN Charter and a deliberate blow to prospects for peace. The statement also warned that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is an act of war that has further destabilized the region during crucial ceasefire negotiations.
On the legislative front, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate to block over $500 million in weapons sales, including 1,000-pound bombs and bulldozers, to Israel. The legislation, however, is not expected to pass, as previous similar efforts by Sanders have failed.
