Against the backdrop of the ongoing developments in the crisis with Israel, Information Minister Paul Morcos explained that the primary goal of any ceasefire agreement is to achieve the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory, in addition to the release of prisoners, stressing that this goal represents a top priority for the Lebanese state at the present time.
In a statement to Al Jazeera Mubasher, Morcos indicated that the Israeli aggression against Lebanon resulted in the martyrdom of 2,496 people and the injury of 7,725 others, explaining that these numbers reflect the magnitude of the massive human losses that Lebanon incurred as a result of the Israeli attacks.
Morcos stated that the Lebanese state is preparing to take multiple measures and file complaints against Israel, due to its targeting of Lebanese journalists and media professionals, considering that this matter constitutes a very dangerous development, especially since journalists “have become military targets for Israel,” which is completely unacceptable and unacceptable under any circumstances.
The Minister of Information announced that the High Commissioner for Human Rights will visit Lebanon upon an official request, with the aim of conducting a comprehensive investigation into the Israeli attacks, as part of efforts to document violations and follow them up through legal and international channels.
Morcos’s statements come at a sensitive stage, as diplomatic efforts aimed at stopping the escalation coincide with the continuation of field violations and attacks on civilians and press and medical staff, which places the file of Israeli violations at the center of the Lebanese state’s attention and follow-up.
The Minister of Information’s speech reflects a Lebanese trend towards moving the issue of targeting journalists from mere political and media condemnation to an international legal path, with the aim of documenting the facts and collecting evidence before the competent human rights bodies.
This position also appears in the context of an official Lebanese assertion that any ceasefire cannot be a final goal in itself, but rather must serve as a starting point for addressing basic issues, most notably the Israeli withdrawal, the return of prisoners, and stopping attacks on civilians and media institutions.
