Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Lebanon Files Complaint Against Israel at UN Labor Body Over Deadly Pager Explosions
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 hours ago on
November 6, 2024

Lebanon seeks UN labor body intervention over deadly pager explosions, citing worker casualties and safety concerns. (AP/Jamey Keaten)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

GENEVA — Lebanon filed a complaint against Israel at the U.N.’s labor organization over the string of deadly attacks involving exploding pagers, saying workers were among those killed and injured, a Lebanese government minister said Wednesday.

Wave of Explosions Blamed on Israel

The wave of remotely triggered explosions that hit pagers and walkie-talkies carried by Hezbollah members in mid-September were widely blamed on Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. The blasts which went off in grocery stores, homes and on streets killed at least 37 people, including two children, and wounded around 3,000 people, according to Lebanese authorities, deeply unsettling even Lebanese who have no Hezbollah affiliation.

In addition to fighters, the detonating devices hit workers in Hezbollah’s civilian institutions, including its health care and media operations.

Complaint Filed at International Labor Organization

Lebanese Labor Minister Moustafa Bayram and other officials said he traveled to Geneva and formally filed the complaint Tuesday against Israel at the International Labor Organization, a sprawling U.N. agency that brings together governments, businesses and workers.

“This method of warfare and conflicts may open the way for many who are evading international humanitarian law to adopt this method of warfare,” he told reporters at the U.N. compound in Geneva.

“It’s a very dangerous precedent, if not condemned,” he said. “We are in a situation where ordinary objects — objects used in daily life — become dangerous and lethal.”

Concerns Over Worker Safety and Security

Speaking in Arabic, Bayram insisted that ILO conventions guarantee the safety and security of workers, who “were in their workplace and had their pagers or walkies-talkies exploding all of a sudden,” according to an interpreter.

“I do not know where the outcome (of the complaint) will go, but at least we raised our voices to say and warn against this dangerous approach that strikes at human relations and leads to more conflicts,” he added.

An ILO spokeswoman said she was not immediately aware of the complaint or what redress might be possible through it.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday – Hikers, Off-Roaders React to Proposed Change to Sierra National Forest

DON'T MISS

Black Women Notch Historic Senate Wins in an Election Year Defined by Potential Firsts

DON'T MISS

Harris Calls President-Elect Trump to Congratulate Him on Win

DON'T MISS

Democrats Hoped Harris Would Rescue Them. On Wednesday, She Called Trump to Concede

DON'T MISS

Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Are for Sale Nearly 2 Decades After They Were Stolen

DON'T MISS

Costa, Duarte Races Too Close to Call. Valadao Pulls Away

DON'T MISS

Abortion Rights Advocates Win in 7 States and Clear Way to Overturn Missouri Ban but Lose in 3

DON'T MISS

Disgruntled Fired Employee Kills Two Workers at Chicago’s Navy Pier, Police Say

DON'T MISS

Powerful Winds and Low Humidity Raise Wildfire Risk Across California as Blaze Erupts Near Malibu

DON'T MISS

Clovis Unified’s Measure A Needs 25 Votes to Win. Sierra Unified Finally Gets Victory on 3rd Try.

UP NEXT

Black Women Notch Historic Senate Wins in an Election Year Defined by Potential Firsts

UP NEXT

Harris Calls President-Elect Trump to Congratulate Him on Win

UP NEXT

Democrats Hoped Harris Would Rescue Them. On Wednesday, She Called Trump to Concede

UP NEXT

Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Are for Sale Nearly 2 Decades After They Were Stolen

UP NEXT

Costa, Duarte Races Too Close to Call. Valadao Pulls Away

UP NEXT

Abortion Rights Advocates Win in 7 States and Clear Way to Overturn Missouri Ban but Lose in 3

UP NEXT

Disgruntled Fired Employee Kills Two Workers at Chicago’s Navy Pier, Police Say

UP NEXT

Powerful Winds and Low Humidity Raise Wildfire Risk Across California as Blaze Erupts Near Malibu

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified’s Measure A Needs 25 Votes to Win. Sierra Unified Finally Gets Victory on 3rd Try.

UP NEXT

Tulare County Apartment Shooting Sends One to the Hospital

Democrats Hoped Harris Would Rescue Them. On Wednesday, She Called Trump to Concede

46 mins ago

Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Are for Sale Nearly 2 Decades After They Were Stolen

48 mins ago

Costa, Duarte Races Too Close to Call. Valadao Pulls Away

1 hour ago

Abortion Rights Advocates Win in 7 States and Clear Way to Overturn Missouri Ban but Lose in 3

1 hour ago

Disgruntled Fired Employee Kills Two Workers at Chicago’s Navy Pier, Police Say

1 hour ago

Powerful Winds and Low Humidity Raise Wildfire Risk Across California as Blaze Erupts Near Malibu

2 hours ago

Clovis Unified’s Measure A Needs 25 Votes to Win. Sierra Unified Finally Gets Victory on 3rd Try.

2 hours ago

Tulare County Apartment Shooting Sends One to the Hospital

2 hours ago

Unexpectedly, News Outlets Wind Up Having a Relatively Traditional Election Night Experience

2 hours ago

319 Votes Separate Richardson, Bonakdar in NE Fresno City Council Race

2 hours ago

Wired Wednesday – Hikers, Off-Roaders React to Proposed Change to Sierra National Forest

GV Wire’s Edward Smith talks with KMPH Fox 26 “Great Day” anchor Jim De La Vega about the new “Range of Light” monument being pr...

22 mins ago

Wired Wednesday Cover for November 6, 2024.
22 mins ago

Wired Wednesday – Hikers, Off-Roaders React to Proposed Change to Sierra National Forest

26 mins ago

Black Women Notch Historic Senate Wins in an Election Year Defined by Potential Firsts

41 mins ago

Harris Calls President-Elect Trump to Congratulate Him on Win

46 mins ago

Democrats Hoped Harris Would Rescue Them. On Wednesday, She Called Trump to Concede

48 mins ago

Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Are for Sale Nearly 2 Decades After They Were Stolen

1 hour ago

Costa, Duarte Races Too Close to Call. Valadao Pulls Away

1 hour ago

Abortion Rights Advocates Win in 7 States and Clear Way to Overturn Missouri Ban but Lose in 3

1 hour ago

Disgruntled Fired Employee Kills Two Workers at Chicago’s Navy Pier, Police Say

Search

Send this to a friend