The National Human Rights Commission, including the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, expresses its profound concern and strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation forces’ infiltration into the town of Hebbariyeh in Hasbaya District on Sunday–Monday night, the abduction of citizen Atwi Atwi from his home, and his transfer to an unknown location after terrorizing his family and physically assaulting them.

The Commission affirms that the continuation of such violations, alongside more serious breaches, including the unlawful killing of Lebanese civilians, most recently the horrific crime committed this morning in Saddour, which claimed the lives of three citizens, including a child, constitutes a grave threat to the safety of southern residents, the protection of civilians, and the foundations of international law. It calls on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, to end impunity, and to ensure accountability and justice for victims and their families.

The Commission holds the occupation forces fully responsible for the safety and well-being of the abducted citizen and for any physical or psychological harm he may suffer. It stresses that this attack constitutes yet another link in the chain of daily violations and serious breaches of Lebanese sovereignty, civilian rights, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law.

Documented facts indicate that this incident constitutes arbitrary arrest in violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ongoing enforced disappearance due to the lack of information regarding his fate and whereabouts, and unlawful transfer into the territory of the occupying power, in violation of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. It also represents a serious breach of the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, particularly in light of the physical assault and the risk of denial of medical care.

Accordingly, the Commission affirms that Israel bears full international legal responsibility for the safety of the abducted citizen and for the immediate disclosure of his fate and place of detention. It further recalls that, pursuant to Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, the international community has a duty to ensure respect for international humanitarian law in all circumstances. These facts constitute an official legal and factual record that may be relied upon before the Human Rights Council, relevant special procedures, and other competent international mechanisms.

In this context, the Commission proposes that the Council of Ministers mandate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to examine available options, in particular working with Member States of the Human Rights Council in Geneva to support the adoption of a resolution during its sixty-first session, to be held between March and April 2026, aimed at:

• Condemning the continued detention of Lebanese citizens by Israel in conditions that violate international humanitarian law and international human rights law,

• Demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained Lebanese prisoners and the disclosure of the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons,

• Affirming that the detention of civilians as hostages or for bargaining purposes is prohibited under international law and constitutes a grave human rights violation,

• Calling on Israel to fully comply with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, including refraining from transferring detainees outside Lebanon and ensuring humane treatment and fair trial guarantees,

• Urging Israel to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate, regular, and unhindered access to all Lebanese detainees and to allow relevant human rights and humanitarian mechanisms to verify detention conditions,

• Stressing that the implementation of the cessation of hostilities and enhanced security arrangements must be accompanied by full respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, including the protection of civilians and detainees,

• Emphasizing that the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 must include respect for human rights, accountability for violations, and effective remedies for victims,

• Requesting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor the situation of Lebanese detainees in Israel, engage with relevant parties to ensure compliance with international law, and submit a written report to the Human Rights Council followed by an interactive dialogue,

• Calling on all States to ensure respect for international humanitarian law in accordance with Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions and to refrain from any action that would support or perpetuate unlawful situations, and to keep this matter under review.

The Commission further stresses that this incident, along with other documented similar cases, including the enforced disappearance of three Lebanese citizens since before 2024 and the detention of 23 citizens between 2024 and 2025, raises serious concerns regarding Israel’s obligations under international law, particularly the prohibition of arbitrary detention, the absolute ban on transferring protected persons outside occupied territory, the criminalization of enforced disappearance, the absolute prohibition of torture, the prohibition of detaining civilians for coercion or exchange, and the obligation to guarantee unrestricted access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to all detainees.

In light of the above, the Commission calls for the immediate disclosure of the fate of Atwi Atwi and all other Lebanese detainees, particularly the 23 individuals arbitrarily detained, the identification of their places of detention, the guarantee of their physical and psychological integrity, unhindered access for the International Committee of the Red Cross, and an end to all practices of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance against Lebanese civilians.

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