French judges probe war crimes complaint against Israeli army in Lebanon

Two French investigating judges have been appointed to examine a war crimes complaint concerning an Israeli air strike on a residential building in Beirut on 26 November 2024. The complaint was brought by French-Lebanese artist Ali Cherri and the International Federation for Human Rights. Seven civilians were killed in the strike, including Cherri’s parents, hours before a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect. The investigation concerns an allegation that the attack was intentionally directed at a civilian building; opening it is not a finding that a war crime occurred.

The case centres on the apartment Cherri owned in Beirut’s Noueiri neighbourhood. His French nationality gives the judges a basis to investigate the damage to that property, according to the complainants, but they say French courts lack jurisdiction over the deaths because those killed were not French nationals. Amnesty International says its research found no effective advance warning or evidence of a military objective nearby. Israel’s military has previously said it strikes legitimate military targets and follows international law; it had not responded to questions about the complaint when it was filed.