Bitar sets new hearing for Ghazi Zeaiter for June 27

Investigative Judge Tarek Bitar, in charge of the Beirut Port explosion investigation, set a new hearing for former Public Works Minister and MP Ghazi Zeaiter for June 27. Zeaiter is implicated in this case, after he refused to respond to Bitar's summons on Friday, a judicial source told L'Orient-Le Jour.

Zeaiter was represented by his lawyer Samer al-Hajj, who submitted to Bitar a document showing that his client filed a state liability lawsuit against the acts and decisions of Bitar on Thursday. The lawyer also presented a brief arguing that Zeaiter is an MP and that Parliament is in extraordinary session, which implies that the MP is protected by parliamentary immunity.

On Oct. 29, 2021, Zeaiter filed procedural exceptions stating that his prosecution is the responsibility of the High Court tasked with prosecuting presidents and ministers. Bitar has not yet responded to these procedural exceptions, as the requests were sent to the prosecutor's office, which has not yet given its opinion. However, this body must do so before the June 27 hearing, so that the magistrate can address these procedural exceptions.

When asked by L'Orient-Le Jour, a lawyer close to the case believed that by responding to the summons and being represented by his lawyer, Zeaiter implicitly acknowledged that Judge Bitar has jurisdiction.

On Aug. 4, 2020, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history devastated a significant part of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500. This explosion was caused by a fire in a port warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate were stored, despite repeated warnings to the highest authorities.

An investigation was opened in Lebanon, but Judge Bitar had to suspend his investigations in January 2023, facing hostility from a large part of the political class, notably Hezbollah, as well as a series of legal actions against him. He resumed his investigations in early 2025 and has already questioned several former officials, including former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and former Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouk.