UIA STATEMENT ON LEBANON
The Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA – International Association of Lawyers) strongly condemns the recent massive attacks by the Israeli military across Lebanon, which occurred just hours after the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and have caused hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries.
The UIA stresses, with high concern, the urgent need for a commitment to restoring peace and preventing further escalation of hostilities, which have already drastically affected civilian populations and infrastructure in Lebanon and led to an alarming deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the forced displacement of more than a million people, the equivalent of one in five residents.[1]
The UIA unequivocally reiterates that international humanitarian law binds all parties, under all circumstances and that its core principles — distinction, proportionality and precaution — are mandatory.[2] Accordingly, the protection of civilians wherever they are, the safeguard of civilian objects, medical units and humanitarian personnel, as well as the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks must be urgently and strictly upheld at all times. [3] Breaches of these protections and failures to comply with this prohibition constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes. The UIA joins the many voices demanding that independent and impartial investigations into all alleged violations be promptly conducted and that those responsible be brought to justice.[4]
This spiral of violence must end without delay, and all persistent violations of, and disregard for, international law must cease immediately.
There is no longer any place for silence or inaction in the face of such serious and repeated violations.
The international community must take urgent action to uphold international law by protecting both Lebanese civilian population and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity[5], while intensifying diplomatic efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire. But no lasting and sustainable solution to the conflict can be built without ending impunity and ensuring accountability. What is at stake is not only compliance with international humanitarian law in this specific context, but the broader and growing erosion of the authority of international law itself.
The UIA expresses particular solidarity with the Lebanese legal community, which continues to be strongly impacted by the unfolding crisis.
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[1] See for instance. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167268; https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-tells-security-council-we-cannot-let-lebanon-fail; https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-calls-urgent-support-lebanon-humanitarian-catastrophe-looms
[2] See joint statement UIA/UIA-IROL, 1 April 2026.
[3] Geneva Convention IV, 1949.
[4] See, for instance https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/turk-condemns-deadly-wave-israeli-strikes-lebanon
[5] Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Article 2(4).