The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today condemned the “significant damage” caused to civilian infrastructure by Sunday’s Israeli bombing of a financial institution linked to the pro-Iran group. Hezbollah.
“We condemn the massive Israeli bombings in several urban and residential areas (…) which targeted, according to the Israeli military, installations linked to the Al Qard al Hasan financial organization,” he stated in his statement.
The chief of staff of the Israeli army, General Herzi Halevi reported today that on Sunday around 30 targets were hit associated with this organization, throughout Lebanon. In total, in 24 hours, Israeli forces struck “300 Hezbollah targets.” The general stated that the al-Qard al-Hassan organization “receives resources from Iran, grants loans and finances terrorism” from the Shiite organization.
According to her High Commissionthe attacks caused “significant damage to civilian installations”, such as private residences, infrastructure and commercial establishments. It also caused “an indescribable panic and a new wave of displacement among the inhabitants of these areas”.
“THE international humanitarian law must always be respected. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targets,” said the High Commissioner, calling for a ceasefire.
Al Qard al Hassan is a US-sanctioned financial institution. It mainly provides microcredit, in a country where the banking system has collapsed. It is part of a network of organizations, schools and hospitals that have contributed to Hezbollah’s popularity in its strongholds in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in southern and eastern Lebanon.
Source: AMPE