Visiting Lebanon, UN human rights chief says IDF must leave country, stop house demolitions

The United Nations’ human rights chief argues that Israel must end its occupation of large areas of southern Lebanon and halt the demolition of homes.

Volker Türk speaks to The Associated Press as he wraps up a visit to Lebanon, his second in just over a year. He met with government officials, civil society representatives and Lebanese people displaced by the war between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group.

Türk claims some Israeli actions in Lebanon could amount to war crimes, echoing criticism from other human rights groups over the widespread destruction of towns and villages, and the dozens of medical workers and journalists allegedly killed.

“Demolition of this type raises huge flags about compliance with international humanitarian law,” Türk says, describing what has happened as a “wholesale destruction” of civilian homes.

Israel has said that its attacks target Hezbollah personnel and infrastructure. It accuses the Iranian proxy of hiding among civilians, and says its troops in parts of southern Lebanon have revealed weapons warehouses and tunnel networks belonging to the group, often hidden in civilian homes.

Türk, who is based in Geneva, also met with a visiting team from his office investigating attacks in Lebanon during the war.

Türk, who has also criticized Hezbollah for its attacks on northern Israeli towns, calls for an end to Israel’s occupation in southern Lebanon, and for displaced people to return safely to their homes.

“I met yesterday a man who told me that he returned to his village in this zone… south of this so-called yellow line,” he says. “The Israelis were there, they prevented him from going anywhere close to it, and he saw how the village was demolished.”

Türk says he contacted Israeli authorities hoping to conduct a similar visit, but received no reply. Israel was among 10 countries that recently voted against appointing Türk to a second term, alongside the United States and Russia, at the United Nations General Assembly.