Amnesty International has issued a call to the Lebanese government, urging it to grant the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction to probe alleged war crimes within its borders amid ongoing skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israel. This appeal comes exactly one year after what has been marked as the conflict's most lethal day, when Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 553 individuals in Lebanon on September 23, 2024.

The rights group highlighted the plight of many Lebanese civilians who are unable to return to their homes due to continuous peril stemming from the ongoing conflict. Amnesty's statement emphasized the critical need for action: "[T]he Lebanese government must break the cycle of inaction and pursue justice for all victims and the suffering inflicted upon them. The government must urgently grant the ICC jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes under the Rome Statute committed on Lebanese territory since October 2023, including by acceding to the Rome Statute. By failing to join the ICC, the Lebanese government is knowingly blocking a vital path towards international justice."

In addition, Amnesty International called on third-party states, particularly the United States, to halt arms transfers to Israel, aiming to curb the perpetuation of wartime atrocities.

The call from Amnesty International arrived shortly after new reports surfaced on Monday, revealing that an Israeli drone attack aimed at a Hezbollah position in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including children. This incident underscores the ongoing volatility and the urgent need for international legal intervention.

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024 between Hezbollah and Israel following global demands for peace, the recent developments indicate a fragile truce. Amnesty’s push for ICC involvement underscores a growing international concern over accountability and justice for the victims of the conflict.

The situation continues to evolve, with the international community watching closely as Lebanon contemplates its next steps in addressing these grave allegations and the broader implications for peace and justice in the region.