UN's Top Rights Chief Condemns Killings of Civilians in Qana, Lebanon
New York, Jul 31 2006 2:00PM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today strongly condemned the weekend killing of dozens of
civilians, including numerous children, resulting from the shelling by the Israeli forces of a residential building in
Qana, south Lebanon, and reminded the parties of their obligations under international law.
“I call again on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international law and to take all
measures to effectively protect civilians and civilian objects,” Louise Arbour said in a statement released in Geneva.
Noting that Israel had warned the population of likely military action, the High Commissioner underlined that while
effective advance warning of attacks which may affect the civilian population must be given, this legal obligation does
not absolve the parties to the conflict of their other obligations under international law regarding the protection of
civilians.
“All parties to the conflict must respect the principles of distinction and proportionality, particularly when civilians
remain in the zone of military operations after a warning has been issued,” she said.
She also recalled that international humanitarian law requires all parties to avoid locating military objectives within
or near densely populated areas.
The High Commissioner noted the decision of the Israeli Forces to halt air strikes for 48 hours, calling for its full
implementation of that commitment, but cautioned that “this brief halt does not in any way lessen the clear obligations
of the Israeli Forces and Hezbollah under international law.”
“Many people are simply unable to leave southern Lebanon because they have no transport, because roads have been
destroyed, because they are ill or elderly, because they must care for others who are physically unable to make the
journey, or because they simply have no where else to go. Many thousands of civilians will still be in Southern Lebanon
after the suspension of air strikes is ended,” she observed.
The High Commissioner welcomed reports that Israel would conduct an inquiry into the civilian deaths at Qana. She also
reiterated the need for independent investigations to establish facts and conduct an impartial legal analysis of the
persistent allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law during the
conflict.
The High Commissioner again reminded all parties of the need for accountability for violations of international law, and
reiterated the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities.
On 19 July, Ms. Arbour issued a statement voicing grave concern at the killing and maiming of civilians in Lebanon,
Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and stressing that international law demands accountability.
At the time, she also emphasized that parties to any conflict have the obligation to exercise precaution and respect the
principle of proportionality in all military operations so as to prevent unnecessary suffering among the civilian
population.
ENDS