Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday in an unprecedented attack that killed 37 people and wounded more than 3,500.
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International law flouted? A new wave of explosions of Hezbollah transmission devices took place on Wednesday, September 18. This time, it was the walkie-talkies used by the Shiite militia that were targeted after a first wave of pager explosions the day before. These explosions left 37 dead and more than 3,500 injured, according to a new report from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Israel was immediately designated as responsible for the attack by both Hezbollah and military and intelligence specialists. The Hebrew state has not commented on these explosions. The symbol of Israel’s embarrassment? Because this impressive operation raises questions about the limits of the practices of war and respect for international law.
THE “civilian objects” must not be weaponized, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insisted to reporters on Wednesday when asked about the simultaneous pager explosions. “It is very important that there is effective control of civilian objects, not to turn them into weapons. This should be a rule for everyone in the world, which governments should be able to enforce.”said Antonio Guterres.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, went further in a statement published on Wednesday, saying that those responsible for the attack “will have to be held accountable” because “The simultaneous targeting of thousands of people, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowing who was in possession of the targeted devices, where they were located and in what environment they were at the time of the attack, constitutes a violation of international human rights law and, to the extent applicable, international humanitarian law.”
The explosions of these communication devices “are shocking and their impact on civilians is unacceptable; the fear and terror that result is profound”denounced Volker Türk. “In this extremely volatile period, I call on all influential states in the region and beyond to take immediate steps to avoid a further escalation of the current conflicts.”he added, estimating “It is high time that leaders come to the rescue of the right of all to live in peace and security.”.
Volker Türk demands a “independent, serious and transparent investigation” on events to find sponsors and performers.