Over the past four days, Israel’s military has issued repeated, overly broad evacuation orders across Lebanon, affecting more than 100 villages and towns in the south, east, and the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburbs, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Kristine Beckerle, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, stated that these mass orders have caused panic, terror, and a worsening humanitarian crisis for a population already burdened by multiple ongoing emergencies. The warnings provide civilians with little actionable information about when or where strikes may occur, leaving many—including children, older adults, and people with disabilities—unable to safely evacuate.
Amnesty International emphasized that issuing mass evacuation orders does not absolve the Israeli military of its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and minimize harm. Repeated airstrikes following these orders, alongside extensive destruction of civilian property in over two dozen municipalities, raise concerns that these measures may be intended to forcibly displace civilians, which is prohibited under international law. The organization urged all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and avoid unlawful attacks.
Since the escalation on 2 March, more than 300,000 people have been displaced, with over 110,000 sheltering in collective facilities. Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel intensified following cross-border attacks by Hezbollah in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, despite a ceasefire agreement in 2024. Amnesty International has documented widespread unlawful attacks, including the use of white phosphorus and unguided rockets, destruction of civilian areas, and deaths on both sides, calling for investigations into potential war crimes.
