Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, at the Grand Serail, on June 13, 2025. Photo distributed by his office/archives.
In a series of posts on X, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said that ’’documenting Israeli crimes committed against Lebanon and the Lebanese people is a serious undertaking’’ carried out by two bodies: the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, which he described as a fact-finding body under U.N. terminology.
Mitri said the reports produced by the two bodies ‘’are submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.’’
’’The Lebanese documentation, which establishes the facts and supports them with legal arguments, is accessible to all and is based on testimonies and evidence provided by the Lebanese population,’’ he added.
Israel has been at war with Hezbollah since March 2, the second conflict between the two sides in less than three years. During the fighting, Israeli forces have struck numerous civilian sites, carried out widespread destruction in towns and villages, and targeted areas of ecological, agricultural, archaeological and cultural significance, according to Lebanese authorities. More than 450 people have been killed and about 12,000 wounded, including dozens of health workers and rescuers. Lebanese officials also say numerous strikes have hit civilians without prior warning.
Lebanon and the International Criminal Court
Mitri also said Lebanon’s ability to bring a case before the International Criminal Court is limited.
’’Lebanon has not joined the Rome Statute, due to opposition from various local actors,’’ he wrote, adding that the country therefore cannot refer Israel to the ICC, although it can accept the court’s jurisdiction for a specific period.
Mitri said the previous government led by Najib Mikati had approved Lebanon’s accession to the Rome Statute before reversing its decision. He added that the current government, led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has not reversed that decision.
He said Lebanese citizens may instead seek legal action in European courts that recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, adding that ‘’some have already begun to exercise this right.’’
Israel does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. On Nov. 21, 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
At least two Lebanese nationals have already filed legal complaints in France alleging war crimes committed by Israel in Lebanon.
On June 30, lawyer Emmanuel Daoud filed a complaint on behalf of Mohammad H., a 42-year-old French-Lebanese man living in France, alleging ‘’war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Lebanon.’’ According to the complaint, his mother, sister and two nephews were killed in an Israeli strike without prior warning on an apartment building in Sour on the night of April 16-17, while his father was seriously wounded.
Another complaint was filed by visual artist Ali Cherri before the crimes against humanity unit of the Paris Judicial Court. Cherri alleges that an Israeli missile struck an apartment he owned on Nov. 26, 2024, killing his parents, ages 87 and 77.
