Lebanon Files UN Complaint Against Israel Over Pager Attack

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Facts

  • Lebanese Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram has filed a complaint against Israel with the UN's International Labour Organization (ILO) over deadly attacks involving exploding pagers in September.[1]
  • Bayram called the attacks — which killed an estimated 37 people, including two children, and wounded thousands — an "egregious war against humanity, against technology, against work."[2][3]
  • The remotely detonated explosions, which Bayram said took off fingers and blinded victims, went off in streets, homes, and grocery stores. It also targeted alleged Hezbollah operatives in civilian institutions, such as health care and media personnel.[3][4]
  • Bayram said he filed the complaint at the ILO because pagers and walkie-talkies are used for work, arguing that the attacks "[ran] contrary to work environment, security and safety," principles he claimed are "defended by the ILO."[5]
  • This comes as more than 3K people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon and over 13K injured, including at least 30 dead on Wednesday following Israeli strikes in the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, Wednesday — reportedly killing an Israeli soldier.[1][6]

Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]The Salem News Online, [3]New York Post, [4]AL, [5]Caledonian Record and [6]The Times of Israel.

Narratives

  • Anti-Israel narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye and OHCHR. Israel's pager attack was a blatant act of terrorism, with UN officials having already described it as such months ago. Though many of the victims of this attack posed no threat and were not part of a military, Israel chose to kill indiscriminately. As Israeli soldiers continue to commit atrocities in Gaza and now Lebanon, the UN must take action.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by DW and New York Post. Israel's pager attack was a military operation against a military/terrorist target, as it specifically had them made knowing they'd be used by Hezbollah operatives and ensured those going to civilians were safe. The UN should be focused on how Hezbollah has continued to bomb northern Israel since Oct. 7. Terrorists should be condemned for terrorism, not countries defending themselves.