Lebanon files complaint against Israel over deadly pager attacks at UN

Lebanon has officially filed a complaint with the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) over a series of deadly attacks involving exploding pagers in September, which killed and injured thousands of civilians.

The complaint was submitted by Lebanon's Labour Minister, Mustafa Bayram, during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 5, 2024.

Bayram called the attacks an "egregious war against humanity" and a violation of worker safety and security.

The attacks, which took place on September 23, targeted Hezbollah’s communication devices in Lebanon, including pagers and walkie-talkies.

The explosions were widely attributed to Israel, although it has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility. Bayram stated that it is "widely accepted internationally" that Israel was behind the explosions.

He described the incident as a violation of fundamental work principles, particularly the protection of workers, and emphasized the dangerous precedent it set.

According to Bayram, more than 4,000 civilians were killed, wounded, or maimed in the explosions, many of whom were workers using these communication devices in the course of their duties.

The Labour Minister said that ordinary objects, such as pagers, had been turned into lethal weapons, and the attack had caused life-changing injuries to many, including severe trauma such as the loss of fingers and eyesight.

Bayram explained that the complaint was filed with the ILO because the attacks directly contravened the organization’s core principles, including the right to a safe work environment and the protection of workers’ rights.

"If left unchecked, this crime could become normalized and generalized in the future," Bayram warned, adding that it was a moral obligation for Lebanon to bring attention to this issue and prevent such attacks in the future.

The Lebanese government is also exploring additional avenues to address these attacks in other international forums, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), as Bayram acknowledged.

However, he stressed the urgency of addressing the broader violations of worker safety and security within the context of Israel’s military operations.

The September attacks marked a significant escalation in Israel's ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, which has been intensifying since Israel's military operation in Gaza began in October 2023.

A week after the pager attacks, Israel launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon and intensified airstrikes in several Lebanese regions, including Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley.

These airstrikes have resulted in more than 3,000 deaths and widespread displacement across Lebanon.

Bayram reiterated Lebanon’s call for a ceasefire and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which urges a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Minister expressed concerns over the long-term implications of Israel’s military actions on Lebanon’s population and infrastructure, which he said were exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.

The Lebanese government is also considering filing complaints in other international bodies, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), as the scale of Israeli military invasions in Lebanon grows.

Bayram underscored the need to address these violations on multiple fronts, adding that the Lebanese government would not hesitate to raise the issue of Israel’s conduct in Lebanon at various international forums.

Lebanon’s Labour Minister also called for an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Bayram expressed frustration that, despite international calls for peace, the violence continues to escalate, affecting both the civilian population in Lebanon and exacerbating the humanitarian situation.

These events come after Israeli attacks in eastern Lebanon, particularly in the Baalbek region of the Bekaa Valley, killed at least 40 people and injured 53, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

On Wednesday, further strikes killed at least 38 people near Baalbek, with additional air raids targeting southern Beirut later that evening.

Lebanon's prime minister has also accused Israel of rejecting calls for a ceasefire after bombing Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has urgently requested over $115 million to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon amid the escalating violence.

This complaint at the ILO is part of Lebanon’s broader effort to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Lebanon, highlighting the grave consequences of the pager attacks on the civilian population and workers across the country.