UN Report Documents Lebanon Deaths and Displacement During Hostilities
Summary
A UN Human Rights report published on 24 April 2026 documents significant harm to civilians in Lebanon during the first three weeks of the recent escalation between Hezbollah and the Israeli military. The report finds that Israeli operations included direct attacks on civilians and medical personnel, strikes levelling residential buildings, and vaguely communicated evacuation orders covering nearly 14 percent of Lebanese territory, displacing over one million people. Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israeli residential areas are also documented as potential violations of international humanitarian law. The UN High Commissioner calls for independent investigations and urges all states to cease arms transfers where there is a clear risk of serious violations.
“Israel's vaguely communicated blanket evacuation warnings and displacement orders — covering almost 14 per cent of Lebanon's territory — have led to the displacement of over a million people, according to the Lebanese authorities.”
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The UN Human Rights report documents deaths, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure in Lebanon during the first three weeks of the recent escalation of hostilities. Israeli military operations are found to include direct attacks on civilians and medical personnel, strikes on multi-storey residential buildings, and blanket evacuation orders covering nearly 14 percent of Lebanese territory. These orders may amount to forced displacement prohibited under international humanitarian law. Hezbollah is separately documented for firing unguided rockets into Israeli residential areas, also potentially constituting serious violations. The report notes ongoing attacks on healthcare workers and journalists, with rescue teams obstructed by Israeli forces. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk calls for prompt, independent investigations and urges all states to cease arms transfers where there is a clear risk they could facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.
For governments, humanitarian organisations, and legal practitioners, the report reinforces the application of international humanitarian law protections to all parties to the conflict, including protections for medical personnel, journalists, health facilities, schools, and religious sites. States supplying arms to any party in the region should review the risk that those arms could be used to commit serious violations, consistent with the High Commissioner's call for cessation of such transfers where a clear risk exists. Displaced civilians must be able to return safely once conditions permit, per the report's stated requirement.
Archived snapshot
Apr 26, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Press briefing notes Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN report on deaths and displacement in Lebanon
24 April 2026
© FADEL ITANI / AFP From
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Thameen Al-Kheetan
Location
Geneva
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A UN Human Rights report published today on deaths and displacement in Lebanon during the first three weeks of the recent escalation of hostilities, between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, documents the significant, ongoing impact on a wide range of human rights. These include the rights to life, health, education, food, housing, work, a safe environment, freedom of movement, and freedom of religion or belief.
Our analysis of the large-scale attacks, shelling and ground incursions found that operations by Israeli forces in Lebanon involved cases of direct attacks on civilians, including medical personnel. We also documented several incidents in which Israeli strikes hit, and in some cases levelled, multi-storey residential buildings, killing entire families. Such strikes may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. Similar incidents have continued beyond this period – even after the present ceasefire was announced.
Hezbollah fired reportedly unguided rockets into residential areas in Israel, damaging buildings and other civilian infrastructure. These strikes may also constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
In many of the Israeli attacks, no warnings, or no reasonably effective warnings, were given, preventing many civilians from evacuating safely. Israel’s vaguely communicated blanket evacuation warnings and displacement orders – covering almost 14 per cent of Lebanon’s territory – have led to the displacement of over a million people, according to the Lebanese authorities. Given the breadth and circumstances of these orders, they may amount to forced displacement, prohibited under international humanitarian law. Fifty-five localities in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, remain under such orders today. All displaced civilians who wish to return to their homes must be able to do so safely.
We have continued to document frequent deadly attacks on healthcare workers, particularly first responders, and on journalists. On Wednesday, an Israeli strike killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in the south, and injured photographer Zeinab Faraj. Rescue teams, including the Lebanese Red Cross, attempting to reach them reportedly faced obstruction by the Israeli military. This included the use of a sound grenade and live fire targeting an ambulance, delaying access to the site.
Medical personnel, whether military or civilian, and other civilians, including journalists, are protected, under international humanitarian law. Deliberately targeting them would amount to a war crime.
Civilian objects, including health facilities, schools and religious sites have been entirely destroyed or severely damaged.
Israeli attacks have burned or contaminated farmland, and disrupted or destroyed livelihoods, undermining the rights to food, work and to a healthy environment. There have been reports that Israeli forces have used ammunition containing white phosphorus which has particularly incendiary effects.
We are concerned about rising communal tensions and discriminatory practices preventing displaced people from accessing housing and other essential services.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk calls for prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all incidents involving allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. Findings must be disclosed, and those responsible held to account.
The UN Human Rights Chief urges all States to cease the sale, transfer and diversion to any party of arms, munitions and other military equipment where there is a clear risk that they could be used to commit or facilitate the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
He also calls on all parties to ensure the ceasefire becomes a permanent cessation of hostilities and basis for a lasting peace.
To read the full report, click here
For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva
Thameen Al-Kheetan: +41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org
Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org
Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
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