The United Nations said that it was "extremely alarmed" by the "sudden escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah" in Lebanon on Tuesday, where "tens of thousands" of people have fled violence, Belga News Agency reports. Belgian politicians have publicly denounced the escalation and advised against travel to the country.
Israel announced dozens of new air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon on 24 September – one day after 492 people, including 35 children, were killed in the deadliest bombardment since a devastating war in 2006.
"We are gravely concerned by the serious escalation of attacks that we witnessed yesterday. Tens of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes yesterday and tonight, and the numbers continue to grow," a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Matthew Saltmarsh, said at a press briefing in Geneva.
"This is a region that has already been devastated by war and a country that knows suffering all too well."
Lebanon
Israel carried out new strikes against targets in the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon overnight on Monday. This follows large-scale bombardments that killed around 500 people on Monday and raised fears of a regional escalation almost a year after the start of the war in Gaza.
"The price paid by civilians is unacceptable and the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Lebanon is paramount. International humanitarian law must be respected. There is an urgent need to put an end to the hostilities," said the UNHCR spokesperson.
"We are extremely alarmed by the sudden escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. We call on all parties to cease violence immediately and ensure the protection of civilians," stated Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is also "urgently calling for an immediate de-escalation" and for all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Belgium deplores 'extremely worrying' escalation
Belgium's foreign office also reiterated its warning against travel to Lebanon on Sunday, following recent explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah in the country last week. The explosions resulted in 39 deaths and approximately 3,000 injuries. Additionally, Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed another 37 people.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also strongly advised against travel to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Outgoing Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib (MR) denounced the violence in Lebanon on X on Monday. "The intensification of the conflict on the border between Lebanon and Israel is extremely worrying. [...] The only way out of this conflict is through diplomacy," she said.
The intensification of the conflict on the border between Lebanon and Israel is extremely worrying.
Civilians, including women and children, are once again being affected. De-escalation is urgently needed. The only way out of this conflict is through diplomacy. — Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) September 23, 2024
Belgium's outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter (Groen) joined Lahbib by taking to social media on Tuesday to express her "shock" at the "horrendous attack by Israel" on Monday night.
"Only diplomacy will bring citizens home safely. Only a ceasefire will end the suffering," De Sutter said.
I’m shocked. 492 lives lost in Lebanon. +1600 injured. Tens of 1000s were ordered to flee their homes. In 1 day.
This horrendous attack by Israel won’t lead to any solution for the region. Only diplomacy will bring citizens home safely. Only a ceasefire will end the suffering. https://t.co/Gd7Q7lOw0R — Petra De Sutter (@pdsutter) September 24, 2024
Following the deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Monday, Hezbollah has retaliated by launching rockets at Israel, according to Belga.
The group said it had attacked the Jewish State at least six times on Tuesday morning with Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 missiles. The Israeli military airport at Megiddo, west of Afula, was targeted, as was the Ramat David military base near the coastal city of Haifa.
For its part, the Israeli army said that more than 50 projectiles had been fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel on Tuesday morning, "the majority of which were intercepted," the army said in a statement. Several projectiles damaged buildings in the area.
