UN human rights chief Volker Turk says Israel’s mass evacuation orders for Lebanon raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law.

GENEVA: The UN human rights chief has warned that Israel’s large-scale evacuation orders for southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs raise serious concerns under international law. Volker Turk said the “blanket, massive displacement orders” affecting hundreds of thousands of people constitute a potential forced transfer.

Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut overnight after ordering residents to leave. An Israeli military spokesperson had earlier told residents of four large districts, including areas near Beirut’s airport, to move east and north.

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The Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which triggered the latest escalation by opening fire on Monday, warned Israelis to leave towns within 5 km of the border. “Lebanon is becoming a key flashpoint. I’m extremely concerned and worried about the latest developments,” Turk stated in Geneva.

He emphasised that such conduct undermines a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law. “The world urgently needs to see steps to contain the Middle East crisis,” he added.

Tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from border towns during fighting in 2024, though many have since returned. Israeli officials have previously said there are no current plans for a new evacuation.

 The Sun Malaysia