BEIRUT (AP) — The United Nations’ top human rights official declared Monday that Israel must pull back from the large swaths of southern Lebanon it currently occupies and put a stop to the destruction of civilian homes — and his remarks came just days before Lebanese and Israeli representatives are scheduled to sit down for another round of direct negotiations.
Volker Türk spoke with The Associated Press as he concluded a trip to Lebanon, his second visit to the country in a little over a year. During the visit, he met with government leaders, civil society groups, and Lebanese citizens who were forced from their homes during the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.
The trip took place roughly a week before Lebanese and Israeli officials are scheduled to convene in Rome to discuss how to carry out a framework agreement reached on June 26. That deal outlined a plan for Lebanese military forces to deploy in southern Lebanon while Israeli forces withdraw, along with the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has rejected the direct talks and has stated it will not give up its weapons.
Türk said certain Israeli actions in Lebanon could rise to the level of war crimes, aligning his criticism with that of other human rights organizations that have raised alarms about the widespread destruction of towns and villages and the deaths of dozens of medical workers and journalists.
