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NEW YORK: Israel’s multiple bombings of a financial institution in Lebanon earlier this week were illegal attacks on civilian objects under international humanitarian law, an independent human rights expert said on Wednesday.
Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, said that attacks on economic infrastructure are illegal “even if they indirectly sustain (the adversary’s) military activities.”
Ahead of the attack, Israel issued public warnings that it would strike the offices of Al-Qard Al-Hasan bank, which it claims finances Hezbollah.
The bank offers small interest-free loans and undertakes charitable activities. It has thousands of customers and multiple branches across Lebanon.
In armed conflict, only “military objectives” whose destruction “offers a definite military advantage” can be attacked, Saul said.
The economic activities of an adversary do not effectively contribute to military action, he added.
“Bombing banks obliterates the distinction between civilian objects and military objectives which is fundamental to protecting civilians from violence. It opens the door to ‘total war’ against civilian populations, where fighting is no longer limited to attacking militarily dangerous targets,” the expert said. “Such attacks jeopardize the right to life.”
Saul warned that international counterterrorism law does not authorize military attacks to prevent alleged terrorist financing or money laundering.
“Bombing banks is not a lawful solution to the challenges of financial crime and regulation,” he said.
To suppress terrorist financing, states should instead resort to administrative and criminal law measures, Saul added.
The attacks were the latest escalation of violence in Lebanon over the past year, with more than 2,400 people killed and 1.2 million displaced, according to the UN.
Saul joined other UN officials in calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.