French-Lebanese artist Ali Cherri, in collaboration with the International Federation for Human Rights, has filed a civil complaint in a French court regarding a 2024 Israeli airstrike in Beirut. The strike, which occurred in the Noueiri neighborhood just hours before a ceasefire, destroyed Cherri’s family home and killed seven civilians, including his parents and their domestic helper. The legal action, submitted to a specialized war crimes unit, alleges that the targeting of a civilian residence constitutes a war crime under both French and international law.
This case represents the first time Israeli military actions in Lebanon have been brought before the French judiciary, utilizing laws that allow France to investigate grave crimes committed abroad against its citizens. Supported by evidence from Forensic Architecture and Amnesty International, the lawsuit seeks to challenge military impunity and establish accountability for civilian casualties. For the art world, it highlights the intersection of creative practice and human rights activism, as a prominent international artist leverages his platform and dual nationality to seek legal redress for wartime atrocities.