France’s war crimes unit has initiated a judicial investigation into an Israeli airstrike that destroyed a civilian building in central Beirut in November 2024. The move follows a legal complaint submitted by French-Lebanese artist and director Ali Cherri and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). Hiba Marwaif, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, described the probe as a long-awaited breakthrough in challenging the widespread impunity enjoyed by Israeli forces regarding alleged war crimes in Lebanon.
The Incident and Legal Basis
The targeted strike occurred on November 26, 2024, hitting a twelve-story residential building in the Nourieh district of Beirut. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least seven civilians, including Cherri’s parents, Nadra Hayek, aged 78, and Mahmoud Naim Cherri, aged 88, as well as their assistant, Birki Negisa. Three floors were collapsed, and significant damage was sustained on a fourth floor. The complaint was formally lodged on April 1, 2026, leveraging Cherri’s dual French-Lebanese citizenship to establish jurisdiction under French law. Investigators are examining whether the bombing constituted a deliberate attack on civilian property, which qualifies as a war crime.
Amnesty International Findings
Amnesty International conducted its own inquiry into the incident, concluding in February 2025 that the strike violated international humanitarian law. The organization found no evidence of military targets in the immediate vicinity of the building. Furthermore, investigators determined that no effective prior warnings were issued to the civilians residing in the structure. The timing of the attack is particularly notable; it occurred at 5:30 PM on November 26, just ten and a half hours before a ceasefire agreement was scheduled to take effect. Amnesty concluded there were reasonable grounds to treat the incident as a war crime requiring full investigation.
Broader Context and Casualties
This case highlights a broader pattern of alleged unlawful attacks by Israeli forces in Lebanon since October 2023. According to data from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, these hostilities have resulted in 8,956 deaths and 30,664 injuries by October 30, 2026. Despite extensive documentation of repeated illegal attacks by Amnesty International, victims have largely been denied justice, truth, or reparation.
Marwaif emphasized that as military operations continue in southern Lebanon, causing displacement and destruction of civilian assets, states must utilize all available legal mechanisms, including extraterritorial jurisdiction. She argued that bringing all suspects to fair trials is essential to prevent impunity from prevailing. For the victims and their families, this European court proceeding offers a rare and fundamental avenue to uncover the truth and achieve accountability.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
