In light of the recent Israeli aggression against Lebanon and its people, the Feminist Platform in Lebanon expresses its strong condemnation of the grave violations committed against civilians, which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.
Field data indicates widespread targeting of residential neighborhoods, resulting in forced displacement of populations and systematic destruction of homes and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and vital facilities. Targeting bridges and cutting off main roads not only constitutes destruction of civilian infrastructure, but also directly obstructs the delivery of humanitarian aid and food and medical supplies to affected areas, exacerbating civilian suffering and threatening the right to life and dignity.
There has also been documented direct and repeated targeting of groups afforded special protection, particularly women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities, in addition to attacks on hospitals, health centers, ambulances, civil defense personnel, Red Cross teams, journalists, and media workers, in a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions, which guarantee protection for civilians and humanitarian and media workers.
The nature of these violations constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity falling within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, requiring urgent action to ensure accountability and prevent impunity.
These violations are accompanied by a dangerous escalation in hate speech and incitement, whose impact extends beyond public and media spaces to fuel violence, justify the targeting of civilians, undermine social cohesion, and deepen divisions. In conflict contexts, such rhetoric represents a multiplier of risks, contributing to an environment conducive to violations and undermining prospects for peace and stability.
In this context, the Feminist Platform in Lebanon affirms that strengthening the role of the Lebanese state and the rule of law constitutes the cornerstone of protecting citizens and residents, ensuring respect for international obligations, and preventing impunity, including effectively addressing hate speech within legal frameworks. The Platform calls for:
- The immediate cessation of all attacks and full compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality, and the prohibition of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure; as well as the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanese villages that have been occupied and ensuring the safe return of displaced persons.
- The Lebanese government to immediately declare acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on Lebanese territory since October 2024 to date, pursuant to Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute.
- Ensuring unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and essential supplies, and halting the targeting of vital infrastructure, particularly bridges and roads, whose destruction isolates affected areas and deprives them of food, medicine, and essential services.
- Enhancing immediate protection for the most vulnerable groups, particularly women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and workers — including domestic workers — as well as LGBTQI+ communities, in addition to protecting workers in the medical, humanitarian, and media sectors, in accordance with international obligations.
- Activating the role of state institutions, particularly judicial and security bodies, to monitor, document, and prosecute crimes, alongside cooperation with relevant international mechanisms to strengthen accountability and limit impunity.
- Launching a strict national pathway to address hate speech, incitement, and accusations of treason, including legal prosecution, strengthening media accountability, monitoring inciting rhetoric, and preventing its use to justify or promote violence, while fully safeguarding public freedoms.
- Affirming the exclusive control of arms by legitimate Lebanese military and security forces, as a fundamental necessity for strengthening civil peace, preventing descent into chaos, and ensuring state sovereignty over its entire territory and decision-making.
- Supporting and empowering civil society institutions, particularly feminist and queer organizations, to ensure continued delivery of essential services, including legal, humanitarian, and psychosocial support, and strengthening their role in documenting violations and contributing to accountability efforts, while ensuring protection for their staff and enabling safe access to affected communities.
- Guaranteeing victims’ rights to justice and reparations, including compensation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction based on principles that preserve human dignity and address the needs of affected populations.
Justice is not an option, but a fundamental condition for redressing victims and safeguarding their rights within a unified state founded on the rule of law. The Feminist Platform in Lebanon reaffirms its steadfast commitment to standing alongside the state and affected communities, and to defending human rights, justice, and equality, regardless of the severity of crises and violations. Solidarity remains at the core of feminist action and the path toward building a just and capable state that protects all individuals without discrimination.