Complaint filed in France against Israel over 600 olive trees — Jerusalem Post

A Franco-Lebanese entrepreneur has filed a civil complaint in France against Israel and the Israel Defense Forces, alleging the uprooting of 600 olive trees that, he says, belonged to his family in southern Lebanon. As The Jerusalem Post reports, lawyers for the 37-year-old man told AFP that he considers the alleged theft, destruction and damage to property to be war crimes or other offenses.

Claims regarding the olive grove

The complaint states that the trees were uprooted along with their roots, and that some of them may have been several hundred years old. They grew on land in Zawtar al-Sharqiya in southern Lebanon, which the complainant's family claims to have cultivated for 250 years.

The entrepreneur also stated that the family home was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike several hours before a ceasefire was announced in April 2026. According to his version, the Israeli military later took control of the area, while the trees were uprooted after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement at the end of June.

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The complainant's position and the army's response

In the complaint, the entrepreneur stated that he is not a member or supporter of Hezbollah. He claims that there is no evidence that the group used his home or farmland for military purposes, and also suggested that the trees may have been transported to Israel.

Zawtar al-Sharqiya is located on the northern bank of the Litani River in the Nabatieh district, where Israeli forces entered during hostilities with Hezbollah. Lebanese officials, non-governmental organizations and residents had previously accused Israel of damaging agricultural land, including through fires. In August, the Israel Defense Forces stated that it was aware of the potential environmental impact of its activities and was taking precautionary measures to reduce harm to civilians and nature.