Please wait while my tweets loadSupport Our Work
CIVIC is the only organization solely focused on civilians in armed conflict.
Field Blog
Healing the Wounds Israel & Lebanon | Heal the Wounds: Israel & Lebanon |
|
Field Blog: CIVIC from the Field: Lebanon 
The Conflict On July 12, 2006, Israel launched a full-scale military offensive into South Lebanon in response to Hezbollah's cross-border raid that killed eight Israeli soldiers and captured two others. Israel conducted aerial strikes throughout Lebanon and dropped cluster munitions—leaving unexploded remnants of warfare across Southern Lebanon. Members of Hezbollah retaliated, launching imprecise Katyusha rockets across the border into northern Israel. Both the IDF and Hezbollah have been criticized for failing to distinguish between military targets and civilians. According to Human Rights Watch, the conflict left 1,109 Lebanese dead, most of them civilians, and 4,399 injured. Hezbollah's operations left 43 Israeli civilians dead and hundreds of Israeli civilians wounded. The actual civilian death toll is difficult to ascertain and estimates have been disputed by warring parties. By the August 14, 2006 ceasefire, the 34-day conflict had created a long term humanitarian disaster. According to the UN-appointed Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon, at least 900,000 Lebanese were displaced from their homes. Israel dropped an estimated 4 million cluster bomblets during the conflict, a quarter of which failed to explode; they continue to kill and maim civilians in southern Lebanon. After nearly three years, on May 12, 2009, Israel handed over to the UN maps illustrating where Israel dropped cluster bombs. The conflict also caused major damage to Lebanese civilian infrastructure, including transportation networks (bridges and roads) and factories. The cost of repair and reconstruction was estimated at over $7 billion by the Council for Economic Research in Beirut. Lebanon demanded compensation from Israel for the damages, which UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon echoed in 2008. Israel has thus far ignored the call to compensate. Sporadic spates of violence continue to challenge the ceasefire. In early 2009, occasional rocket attacks were launched from southern Lebanon into Israel. The IDF responded with artillery shelling and rockets. Stability is further challenged by tensions in the region, particularly between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. CIVIC's Work In 2008, CIVIC traveled to areas of Israel and Lebanon affected by the 2006 conflict and met with government officials, experts on civilian casualties, and organizations working to help the victims recover. CIVIC joined with colleague human rights organizations pressing Israel to turn over information on their use cluster munitions (which it later did), and urged the State Department to pressure Israel to finance demining efforts in Lebanon. CIVIC continues to monitor the events in Lebanon and northern Israel and urges both warring parties to make amends for civilian harm. Casualty Statistics
- 1,109 Lebanese died during the 34-day war (HRW) Displacement Statistics
- Estimated 1 million Lebanese displaced (HRW) CIVIC on Israel/Lebanon To hear what civilians are saying in Israel & Lebanon, visit A Voice for Survivors: The Little Boy and the Little Bomb One Morning at the Train Depot
For policy and program inquiries: |
Israel