At least 127 civilians killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since ceasefire took effect

At least 127 civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since a ceasefire was declared nearly a year ago, the UN has said as it called for an impartial investigation into the strikes. “We continue to witness increasing attacks by the Israeli military, resulting in the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian objects in Lebanon, coupled with alarming threats of a wider, intensified offensive,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, at a Geneva press briefing. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement – which sought to bring to an end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah – by continuing its strikes and maintaining forces inside its territory. Israel has said Hezbollah is working to rebuild its military capabilities, accusing the Iran-backed group of breaking the ceasefire terms. According to the Lebanese health ministry, more than 330 people have been killed and 945 injured since the ceasefire took effect on 27 November last year. Kheetan said the UN had verified that at least 127 civilians were killed in that period. Related: Tense calm in far north as Israel prepares to ‘finish the job’ against Hezbollah He highlighted in particular last week’s Israeli strike on Ain al-Hilweh camp for Palestinian refugees in southern Lebanon, which killed 13 people – 11 of them children. On Friday, Israel said it had targeted “terrorists” from the Palestinian militant group Hamas, allied with Hezbollah, in that strike. But Kheetan told reporters in Geneva: “All the fatalities we have documented as a result of this strike were civilians, raising serious concerns that the Israeli military’s attack may have violated international humanitarian law principles on the conduct of hostilities.” He added: “There must be prompt and impartial investigations into the Ain El-Hilweh strike, as well as all other incidents involving possible violations of international humanitarian law by all parties, both before and after the ceasefire.” “Those responsible must be brought to justice.” Kheetan also said that continuing Israeli attacks in Lebanon had destroyed and damaged civilian infrastructure. “They have also severely hampered reconstruction efforts and attempts by internally displaced people to go back to their homes in southern Lebanon,” he said. The rights office said more than 64,000 people, mainly from southern Lebanon, remained displaced in other parts of the country after last year’s war. Kheetan said: “Israel started constructing a wall crossing into Lebanese territory that makes 4,000 sq m inaccessible to the population, thus affecting people’s right to return to their lands. “All those internally displaced must be able to go back to their homes, and reconstruction should be supported, not hampered,” he said, urging all parties to comply with the ceasefire “in good faith”.