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INPRIMATU
The memory of bomb toys is still alive in Lebanon
  • The Middle East has been rocked by attacks that have turned search engines and walkie-talkies into explosive devices. Israel is silent, but there is no doubt that Israel is behind the attacks. Among other things, because he has already played in these deadly games in the past, and according to many accusations, even through a toy bomb.
Xabier Letona Biteri @xletona 2024ko irailaren 20a
Argazkia: AFP / Mahmoud Zayyat

Lebanon has been the scene of numerous attacks by the Israeli Army in recent decades, especially in the south of the country. According to information published in 1997 by the newspaper Orient-Le Jour, Israel launched bomb toys against aircraft and helicopters in Syria.

He also gave some examples of it, like a small green plastic jeep that exploded him in his hands. A child who found a flashlight trap also suffered severe burns and a small one was killed by a wrist bomb.

But it wasn't just a matter of the Lebanese media, according to an officer at the UN Permanent Mission to Lebanon, UNIFIL, the Israeli Army was throwing these toys and other objects mainly from helicopters. The same accusation was made in the letter that the UN Secretary-General wrote in 1998 with the same peace mission, in which they said that thousands of toy bombs had been dropped from Israeli aircraft to Lebanese countries, and mention was made of the specific case of Nabatiyah, where several children were killed and others injured.

Hezbollah then denounced that among the objects searched were a golden egg, a Snoopy dog, a talking doll and a fluorescent yellow cone. Israel denied all the allegations and even described them as despicable.

But there were also similar complaints from Western sources, including a report by the UK Foreign Ministry in 2000. He mentioned that in Lebanon there was a wide variety of unexploded artifacts, including toy traps.

Following attacks by people search engines and walkie-talkies, UN Secretary-General Antoni Guterres delivered a speech to the general assembly on Wednesday in which he stressed that “civilian objects should not become part of the war.” These explosive devices continue to kill dozens of people in Lebanon.

When Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, it is estimated that there would be some 37,000 unexploded mines, both from Israel and from the groups involved in the Lebanese civil war. Damage caused and the cleaning of explosives up to 2023 led to the cleaning of 80% of dangerous surfaces, but with the current conflict cleaning work is paralysed and it is estimated that they will not be completed until 2030. These works, which do not only include explosives experts, have been carried out by clowns to alert children to the danger of using certain objects, according to the news released by Middle East Eye.