French-Lebanese man accuses Israel of war crimes over theft of uprooted olive trees - report

A French-Lebanese businessman has filed a civil complaint in France accusing Israel and the IDF of war crimes for uprooting 600 olive trees belonging to his family in southern Lebanon. The complaint, filed as a civil party, alleges theft, destruction, and damage to property. The trees were on land his family cultivated for 250 years in Zawtar Sharqieh. The businessman rejects any connection to Hezbollah.

A French-Lebanese businessman has filed a civil complaint in France alleging war crimes against Israel and the IDF, accusing the military of uprooting 600 olive trees belonging to his family in southern Lebanon. The 37-year-old entrepreneur, born in Lebanon, filed the complaint as a civil party over alleged theft, destruction, and damage to property that he says constitute war crimes or other offenses. According to the complaint, reviewed by AFP, the trees were uprooted "roots and all," with some allegedly dating back hundreds of years. The olive trees were on land his family cultivated for 250 years in Zawtar Sharqieh, his hometown in southern Lebanon. The complaint states that the businessman's family home was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike hours before a ceasefire announcement in April 2026. He alleges that the Israeli army later took control of the area, and that the olive trees were uprooted following a framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel in late June. The businessman's complaint states that he is "neither a member nor a sympathizer of Hezbollah" and argues that "there is no evidence to suggest that Hezbollah was using the house or the agricultural fields as military equipment." He also alleges that the trees may have been transferred to Israel. The complaint describes the alleged destruction of olive trees as part of broader claims of Israeli war crimes in southern Lebanon, citing an Amnesty International report. Lebanese officials, NGOs and residents have previously accused Israel of damaging agricultural land during the conflict with Hezbollah that began in October 2023. In August, the IDF said it was "aware of the potential environmental impact of its activities in the region" and was taking "precautionary measures to reduce harm to civilians and the environment."