The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Committee of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has monitored statements made by the Israeli military spokesperson via the “X” platform. These statements announced a military operation dubbed “The Punishment” (Al-Iqab), which included the landing of special forces in an area named “The Christophini Mountains” within the Eastern Lebanon Mountain Range, just minutes before the ceasefire agreement took effect.
In light of this announcement, the Committee highlights the following legal facts:
First: The Nullity of Invented Geographical Designations The Committee confirms that the name “Christophini Mountains” is a fictitious and fabricated designation that does not exist in the geographical history or official land registries of the Lebanese Republic. The occupation authorities’ invention of new names for sovereign Lebanese territories falls under a policy of “cultural and geographical aggression.” It aims to create “alternative facts” on the ground to facilitate land annexation and mislead the international community and technical committees responsible for monitoring the ceasefire.
Second: Exploiting Timing and Violating the Spirit of the Agreement Executing a landing operation mere “minutes” before the ceasefire takes effect reflects a premeditated intent to violate the “spirit” of international agreements. The operational positioning deep within Lebanese territory (the Eastern Range) under locally unknown names is an attempt to circumvent recognized lines of contact and impose “spheres of influence” within Lebanese sovereignty under the guise of preemptive operations.
Third: Legal Characterization of Operation “The Punishment” The Committee considers this operation, as announced, a violation of the 1907 Hague Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from altering the features of the land or bypassing national administrative authority. Furthermore, it violates the Principle of Good Faith in the implementation of treaties (Vienna Convention); strategic positioning moments before an international commitment to a truce demonstrates military bad faith aimed at maintaining threats and undermining stability.
Fourth: Warning Against “Grey Zones” The Committee warns that the use of the name “Christophini Mountains” aims to create a geographical “grey zone,” making it difficult for international observers to accurately locate forces according to official Lebanese maps. This could lead to future clashes resulting from disinformation regarding positions and boundaries.
Accordingly, the IHL Committee of the National Human Rights Commission demands:
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The Lebanese Government: To take immediate action before the United Nations and the Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) to officially reject and refute this designation.
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UNIFIL Forces: To verify the coordinates of the Israeli positioning in the Eastern Range, demand the withdrawal of occupation forces behind recognized international borders, and disregard any newly invented military designations.
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The Security Council: To reject the policy of “geographical incursion” which paves the way for the disguised annexation of Lebanese lands.
Lebanese geography is a sovereign and historical property; “war names” will never legitimize an illegal presence on a single grain of soil in the Eastern Range or elsewhere.
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