In the recent months and weeks, there has been an increase in calls from Lebanese parties and individuals for a United Nations fact-finding mission to look into the Beirut Port Explosion, as the local investigation is not advancing, but hindered in Lebanon.

I am advocating to enlarge the mandate of this fact-finding mission. 

I would like it to look into the port explosion, but also into the three assassinations that followed and could be linked to the port explosion: that of Mounir Abou Rjeily on December 2, 2020, that of Joseph Bejjani, on December 21, 2020, and that of Lokman on February 3, 2021.

Only an investigation can confirm if these three assassinations were indeed linked to the port explosion or not. 

However, should the fact-finding mission find that these assassinations are not related to the port explosion, they should nevertheless be investigated and their perpetrators be brought to justice. 

The United Nations fact-finding mission will not replace the local investigations, but complement them. 

The culture of impunity and lack of accountability has gripped Lebanon for far too long. 

We therefore call on the United Nations Human Rights Council to commit itself to this fact-finding mission to support Lebanon and its people in its calls for justice and accountability.