BEIRUT: The human rights organisation Amnesty International has stated that mass displacement orders issued by the Israeli military in southern Lebanon constitute war crimes under international law.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the group said the Israeli army has increasingly used “don’t come back” directives, preventing residents from returning to their homes in designated buffer zones and forcibly displacing large civilian populations.
Israeli mass displacement orders in Lebanon amount to war crimes, Amnesty International warns, calling on Israeli forces to “immediately” withdraw from Lebanese territoryhttps://t.co/LIAGAtOqUa
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Amnesty said that in parts of southern Lebanon, such measures amount to unlawful transfer, which it described as a war crime. It further noted that the Israeli military has “radically” expanded these restrictions, displacing hundreds of thousands of people across affected areas.
According to the findings, the Israeli military declared approximately 4.6% of Lebanon a no-go zone on November 28, 2024, shortly after a ceasefire came into effect.
The restricted area was later widened to around 6% of the country, with the introduction of a “Forward Defence” zone following renewed ceasefire developments in April 2026.
The report added that residents of multiple villages have been ordered not to return, despite previously housing tens of thousands of civilians. Amnesty also said the measures have had a significant humanitarian impact, contributing to large-scale displacement across southern Lebanon.
Lebanese authorities estimate that ongoing military operations have resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, alongside the displacement of more than one million people. The report also stated that Israeli forces have advanced into Lebanese territory during the current escalation.
Amnesty’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Kristine Beckerle, urged the Israeli military to withdraw from Lebanese territory and halt policies that forcibly uproot civilian communities. The situation continues to unfold amid heightened regional tensions involving Israel and Lebanon.
