DATA & FIGURES
The Israeli military has used excavators made by the six companies to destroy homes, public utilities, shops, and other structures across southern Lebanon. The destruction has been carried out in a 608 sq km area occupied by Israel along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The Israeli military has also used 450 tonnes of explosives to level structures in the town of Qantara. The use of foreign-produced excavators has been documented in videos and photos, with two pictures taken by the Associated Press on 12 and 15 April in the Lebanese border town of Mays al-Jabal showing excavators from all six companies among flattened houses.
THE SCENARIO
The geopolitical context of the situation is complex, with the Israeli military using foreign-produced excavators to destroy villages in south Lebanon. The destruction has been carried out in the context of a broader conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with the Israeli military seeking to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure. However, human rights experts have said that the wide-scale destruction of villages could amount to wanton destruction, a war crime.
DIRECT QUOTE
"Businesses carrying out activities that contribute to serious international law violations in Lebanon, such as the extensive destruction of civilian property, may expose themselves, or their individual directors and managers, to the risk of prosecution for complicity in war crimes." — Mark Dummett, Deputy Programme Director and Head of Business, Security and Human Rights at Amnesty International
BBN INSIGHT
The use of foreign-produced excavators in the destruction of villages in south Lebanon raises important questions about the role of multinational companies in aiding and abetting war crimes. The fact that companies such as Caterpillar have signed new multimillion-dollar deals to supply the Israeli military with equipment, despite evidence of their products being used in human rights abuses, is particularly concerning.