World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
France Opens War Crimes Probe Into 2024 Beirut Strike
French judges have opened a war crimes investigation into a 2024 Beirut bombing by the Israeli army.
The strike hit an apartment building on November 26, 2024, and killed seven civilians, including Ali Cherri’s parents.
Cherri is a Franco-Lebanese artist who filed a complaint with the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights six months before the investigation opened.
The bombing came hours before a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was due to take effect.
Because Cherri is a French citizen, the inquiry will focus on the bombing of his apartment, while French courts do not have jurisdiction over the deaths of victims who were not French nationals.
The investigation is described as the first judicial probe into alleged crimes by the Israeli army in Lebanon since October 2023.
Cherri says he hopes it will establish responsibility and help hold those who ordered and carried out the bombing accountable.
France has opened a judicial investigation into a November 2024 Israeli strike on a residential building in Beirut that killed seven civilians.
The dead included the parents of Franco-Lebanese artist Ali Cherri.
Two investigating judges have been appointed to examine the case.
Cherri and the International Federation for Human Rights filed a complaint about the bombing.
The investigation will focus on the strike on Cherri’s apartment building.
- Who
- The French War Crimes Unit and two investigating judges are investigating the case. The complaint was filed by Ali Cherri and the International Federation for Human Rights.
- What
- France has opened a judicial investigation into an Israeli strike on a Beirut apartment building that killed seven civilians.
- When
- The strike took place on November 26, 2024. The investigation was reported on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Beirut, Lebanon.
- Why
- Cherri and the International Federation for Human Rights complained about the bombing, which they qualified as a war crime.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An Israeli strike hit a residential building in Beirut, killing seven civilians.
France’s War Crimes Unit opened a judicial investigation, and two investigating judges were appointed.
- Strike date
- November 26, 2024
- Location
- Beirut, Lebanon
- Deaths
- Seven civilians
- People killed
- Ali Cherri’s parents, Mahmoud Naim Cherri and Nadira Hayek, and domestic worker Birki Negesa were among the dead.
- Judges
- Two investigating judges were appointed.
3 sources
What people are saying
To our knowledge, this is the very first judicial investigation opened into the crimes committed by the Israeli army in Lebanon since October 2023
For my family and me, it is essential that this investigation establish responsibility and ensure that those who ordered and carried out this bombing are held accountable for their actions.