![Lebanon PM condemns Israel ‘crimes against humanity’ during Mideast conflict](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora [BBC profile] said Sunday that Israel had committed crimes against humanity during its month-long bombing campaign in the current Middle East conflict [JURIST news archive]. Touring areas outside of Beirut that had been hard hit by the bombings, Siniora called Israel's actions criminal, saying they reflected "Israel's hatred to destroy Lebanon and its unity." Siniora's comments came a day after Israeli forces raided a Hezbollah [CFR backgrounder] stronghold in Lebanon.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called the raid a violation of the ceasefire [UN News report] established earlier this month in Security Council Resolution 1701 [text; JURIST report]. Annan expressed deep concern [statement] about the raid and urged all sides "to respect strictly the arms embargo, exercise maximum restraint, avoid provocative actions and display responsibility in implementing resolution 1701." Siniora, meanwhile, called the Israeli raid a "naked violation" of the ceasefire [Reuters report]. AP has more. AFP has additional coverage.