UNITED NATIONS — The use of weapons to target ordinary communications devices is a new development in warfare. Targeting thousands of Lebanese with pagers, walkie-talkies and electronic equipment without their knowledge is a violation of international human rights law, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Friday.
Volker Türk told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that there should be an independent and transparent investigation into the two attacks in Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, where these explosives detonated, reportedly killing 37 people and injuring more than 3,400 others.
“Those who ordered and carried out these attacks must be held accountable,” he said.
Lebanon has blamed Israel for the attacks, which appeared to be target Hezbollah militants but there were also many civilian casualties, including children. Hezbollah has fought many conflicts with Israelincluding a war in 2006, and has carried out almost daily attacks against Israel in support of Hamas militants who attacked Israel on October 7.
Before the council meeting, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, was asked by reporters about speculation that Israel was behind the two explosions.
“We do not comment on the specific attacks you mentioned, but I can tell you that we will do everything we can to tackle those terrorists and minimize civilian casualties,” he replied.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib accused Israel of terrorizing the entire Lebanese population on the streets, in markets, in shops and in their homes, where their communications equipment exploded.
He held up a photo of a mutilated and bloodied hand and told the ambassadors of the 15 council countries: “Look at the ugliness of what happened in this photo.”
Bouhabib insisted that Israel did not carry out the attacks alone, but told the council that there were “official statements” and a tweet from an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “that was recently deleted, emphasizing Israel’s responsibility and praising the positive results of this attack.”
He appeared to be referring to a deleted tweet from Netanyahu adviser Topaz Luke, who reportedly retweeted a message saying Israel was behind the attacks in Lebanon and neighboring Syria.
Israel’s Danon criticized the Lebanese minister for never bringing up Hezbollah, saying the Lebanese people are “trapped in the clutches of this terrorist organization.”
Bouhabib, the Lebanese, warned the council that if it does not condemn this week’s deadly explosions and name Israel as the perpetrator, a “Pandora’s box” will be opened and governments and extremists will attack, terrorize and kill civilians using similar communications devices on trains, planes and elsewhere.
Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the explosions not only has violated international human rights law but also appear to violate key principles of international humanitarian law when carrying out attacks: distinction between civilians and combatants, proportionality and precautionary measures.
International law also prohibits the use of booby-trap devices that appear harmless, he said, and “it is a war crime to commit violence with the intent to spread terror among civilians.”
“Let me be clear: this method of warfare may be new and unfamiliar,” Türk said, “but international humanitarian law and human rights law apply in any case and must be upheld.”
Israel’s Danon blamed Iran and its ‘puppet’ Hezbollah for the military action across the border between Lebanon and Israel.
“While Israel does not seek a broader conflict, I want to be clear: We will not allow Hezbollah to continue its provocations,” he said. Israel will do “whatever it takes” to return its 60,000 citizens who fled their homes in the north because of attacks, “and we will not allow Hezbollah’s terror to dictate the future of our nation.”
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that “Israel bears full responsibility for committing such heinous crimes” and said his government will be held accountable for the attack on the country’s ambassador to Lebanon, whose eyes were injured in the explosions on Tuesday.
He said the severity of the attacks on the Lebanese people should also be seen as “a threat to peace and security in the entire region.” He added that “the international community must not ignore the role played by Western countries, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, in enabling Israel’s aggression.”
UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo warned the council that the explosions, together with more than 11 months of bloodshed in Gaza and near-daily gun battles across the Israel-Lebanon border, pose a serious risk to security and stability in the region.
She urged all actors to exercise maximum restraint, and strongly urged countries with influence over the parties to “use it now.”
Earlier, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric had called on Israel and Hezbollah to immediately return to the cessation of hostilities that existed before Hamas’ October 7 attacks in southern Israel and Israel’s military response in Gaza. He warned that “the region is on the brink of catastrophe” and that a diplomatic solution must be urgently sought.