GENEVA – The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) today warned that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination is permitted during armed conflict and called for an immediate end to attacks directed against, or indiscriminately affecting, civilians and civilian objects in Lebanon.
Acting under its Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure, the Committee expressed alarm over the mounting civilian toll, mass displacement and widespread destruction resulting from Israeli military operations, including airstrikes, shelling and the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas in Lebanon, which have intensified since 2 March 2026. More than 4,300 people have reportedly been killed, while at least 12,200 have been injured.
The Committee was also alarmed by the scale of displacement following Israel’s issuance of immediate displacement orders across southern Lebanon and in areas between the Litani and Zahrani rivers. In March alone, more than 70 warnings reportedly affected at least 189 towns and villages, covering approximately 14 per cent of Lebanese territory and displacing more than one million people in less than three weeks.
Despite subsequent returns, more than 360,000 people remained displaced at the end of July, including some 27,200 internally displaced people staying in collective shelters.
The experts were also deeply alarmed by public statements by “Israeli officials threatening to impose on Lebanon the same level of destruction as that inflicted in Gaza.” They further cited a statement by the Israeli Minister of Defence characterising “the Shia inhabitants of 24 villages in southern Lebanon as enemies in justifying the complete destruction of their homes.”
CERD also voiced concern over the widespread destruction and demolition of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. It noted reports that entire villages in southern Lebanon have been rendered uninhabitable, with homes, schools, healthcare facilities, water and electricity infrastructure, places of worship and agricultural land destroyed by strikes and demolitions.
At the same time, the experts expressed deep concern over “rockets fired by Hezbollah into populated areas in Israel”, which have caused civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
CERD called on Israel and all parties to the armed conflict to immediately cease attacks directed against, or indiscriminately affecting, civilians and civilian objects.
It urged Israel “to cease the use of rhetoric that dehumanises the population of Lebanon,” and to refrain from any rhetoric “that legitimises collective punishment or incites violence, including on grounds of national or ethnic origin, descent or religion.”
The Committee further urged Israel to rescind blanket displacement and evacuation orders in Lebanon and to refrain from the forcible transfer of people from southern Lebanon, as well as from any other acts that may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or serious violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination or international humanitarian law.
It also called on Israel to facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified return of all displaced people, ensure unimpeded humanitarian access, and provide just and adequate reparation for damage suffered, without discrimination based on national or ethnic origin or descent.
All States Parties were called upon “to cease and refrain from the sale, transfer or diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to any party where there is a clear risk that they could be used to commit or facilitate violations of the Convention, international human rights law or international humanitarian law, or crimes under international law.”
