Lebanon: Israeli attacks on financial institutions are possible war crimes

The report continues, under laws of war, financial institutions are civilian objects unless being used for military purposes. The Israeli military’s targeting of branches of Qard al-Hassan, a non-profit financial association affiliated with Hezbollah with over 30 branches across Lebanon, is likely to be a violation of international humanitarian law and must be investigated as a possible war crime, Amnesty International said today.

We read in the report, Under the laws of war, branches of financial institutions are civilian objects unless they are being used for military purposes. These attacks are likely to constitute a direct attack on civilian objects.

On 20 October, the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson announced on X that its forces would begin “attacking infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah’s Qard al-Hassan”, instructing residents to immediately move away from areas in the vicinity of these buildings. The first attack was reported only 35 minutes later at around 9:30 pm.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said: “Israeli forces have targeted an institution that serves as an economic lifeline for countless Lebanese civilians. This, along with an evacuation warning issued less than 40 minutes before the start of the strikes, shows Israel’s disregard for international humanitarian law.

She continued, “Even if as the Israeli military alleges the institution does provide financing to Hezbollah it is not likely to meet the definition of a military objective, particularly for branches serving civilian customers. Under international humanitarian law, attacks against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited. An international investigation into the attacks on Qard al-Hassan must be urgently initiated.

She added, “Israel must abandon a definition of military objectives that is so broad as to include branches of a financial institution.”