La Via Campesina condemns Israeli aggression against Lebanon, stands in solidarity with the Lebanese people and peasants
BAGNOLET, 08 October, 2024 | We, La Via Campesina, strongly condemn the brutal and relentless Israeli aggression against Lebanon, its civilians, and the sovereignty of its nation. To the Lebanese peasants, in particular those in Southern Lebanon and Bekaa: you are not alone. 200 million peasants around the world stand with you in solidarity.
La Via Campesina will not rest until this unjust war is stopped, and those responsible for these atrocities are held accountable. Our struggle continues for food sovereignty, justice and dignity for all oppressed people.
The ongoing attacks by Israeli occupation forces on Lebanon are grave violations of human rights and international law, targeting not only the land and infrastructure but also the civilians and the territorial integrity of the country. Such acts of aggression are unjustifiable, serving only to perpetuate more crimes, fuel conflict, and escalate tensions across the entire Arabic region. We reject any rationale that seeks to legitimize this violence and call for an immediate end to Israeli actions that threaten the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and regional stability.
Recent attacks against the Lebanese state have resulted in the tragic loss of over 1,640 civilian lives, left more than 8,408 injured, displacing nearly a million people, and caused widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and vital agricultural lands. This is a deliberate campaign of terror aimed at dismantling the very fabric of Lebanon’s society, particularly its rural and farming communities in the south and the Bekaa Valley.
The scale of the devastation is staggering, in particular in the farming sector
The agricultural areas of South Lebanon and Bekaa, which were the most targeted, are indispensable to Lebanon’s food security and economy, providing more than 60% of the country’s food supply.
South Lebanon alone accounts for 30-40% of Lebanon’s citrus production and 20-25% of its olive production, while the fertile plains of Bekaa produce 60-70% of Lebanon’s grains and 40-50% of its fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, the region contributes 15-20% of Lebanon’s agricultural exports, making it critical for the livelihood of thousands of farming families who now face destruction and displacement.
In recent months, more than 50,000 olive trees have been burned, with further damage inflicted using internationally banned white phosphorus, which has poisoned soil and groundwater.
Over 700,000 poultry and 6,000 cattle have perished under constant bombardment. These heinous attacks are not only decimating Lebanon’s agriculture but are also plunging the country into an ever-deepening food crisis, as the ongoing war prevents peasants from accessing their lands during the crucial harvest season.
The US, UK and a few European countries keep giving their full support to the Israeli aggression. The imperialist powers have a vested interest in allowing the Israeli occupation to continue its massacre and criminal acts in the region, acting as a military base that generates various conflicts. We strongly condemn those parties that support Israel by arming it and facilitating its military attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen, causing further loss of life and destruction of livelihoods and the environment.
We reaffirm that La Via Campesina stands firmly opposed to imperialism, fascism, and all forms of war and violence that devastate our lands and contribute to global crises. We recognize that the recent Israeli aggression is already escalating the cycle of violence, involving more parties in the conflict, and leading to heinous crimes against humanity.
La Via Campesina is outraged by the global community’s failure to halt these war crimes. As we mark one year since the Israeli genocide against Gaza, we see the same pattern of atrocities now being perpetrated against the people of Lebanon. The systematic killing of civilians, children, and the elderly is a war crime! The world cannot remain silent while Israel continues to carry out its campaign of destruction with impunity.
We demand the following:
- Immediate cessation of all hostilities: The international community must urgently pressure the Israeli occupation to cease its brutal attacks on Lebanon, particularly in the agricultural heartlands of the south and Bekaa, and to respect the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and its territorial borders.
- Accountability for war crimes: We call for the prosecution of Israeli officials responsible for these crimes against humanity before the International Court of Justice. There can be no peace without justice.
- Rehabilitation and support for peasants: We call for countries, social movements and global institutions worldwide to join us in supporting the reconstruction of the farming sector in Lebanon.
La Via Campesina will mobilize solidarity and all available resources to aid peasants in Lebanon and Palestine to rebuild and reclaim their lands, ensuring they can continue their right to produce food and sustain their livelihoods. We will persist in our efforts to ensure the global community does not turn a blind eye to the suffering of these resilient people.
Global Struggle for Peasants Rights and Food Sovereignty! Globalizing the struggle ,globalizing solidarity and hope
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