Lebanon commemorates today, Friday, the third anniversary of the Beirut port explosion that claimed at least 220 lives, injured thousands, and devastated large areas of the city. On this occasion, many positions and statements have been issued by political parties and figures, accompanied by numerous tweets and statements.
**Mikati**
In this context, Prime Minister Najib Mikati tweeted: "On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Beirut port explosion: Because the truth alone heals the wounds, all hope is that the sun of justice will shine soon, so that the souls of the martyrs may rest in peace, and the injured and the families of the victims may find solace."
**Minister of Justice**
The Minister of Justice in the caretaker government, Henry Khoury, extended his "deepest condolences to the families of the victims" and called on all concerned to expedite the resolution of the pending cases that hinder the work of the investigating judge, as well as the need to complete filling vacant positions in the presidencies of the chambers of cassation to enable the public body to fulfill its role. He asserted that he is certain, despite all difficulties hindering the process, that "justice will reach the desired outcome, revealing all the truths in honor of the blood of the martyrs and protecting the rights of the affected."
**Minister of Interior**
Basam Mawlawi, the Minister of Interior and Municipalities in the caretaker government, noted that "the lack of a state in Lebanon that applies the law is what hinders the resumption of the investigation into the Beirut port explosion case." He emphasized in a radio interview that "what happened on August 4 affected not only the families of the victims but also Beirut and Lebanon, affecting every Lebanese." He stressed that "emerging from this issue requires an investigation and justice to restore the rights of the families of the victims, as well as the rights of all Lebanon."
Mawlawi pointed out that "it is impossible to build a proper state without the foundations of truth, justice, accountability, and responsibility; without them, the state has collapsed on every level." He considered that "irresponsibility is the cause of the collapse and the failure of the state, and we refuse for the fate of the file to fade into oblivion because no one forgets the deep wound and destruction that befell Beirut, nor the injured, many of whom are still on their beds of agony and pain."
In his message to the families of the victims and the injured due to the Beirut port explosion, Mawlawi said: "Your pain is Lebanon's pain, and every Lebanese's pain; it is the pain of the human conscience that does not accept these wounds. We ask for the cooperation of all the countries of the world in uncovering the truth and reaching conclusions in the investigation, in honor of the human conscience and for Beirut." He called for "international cooperation in the investigation because complete investigative data may not be available in the file," reminding that "Lebanese law does not prohibit Lebanese investigative authorities from seeking assistance from any foreign entities that may have information or technical expertise to reveal the crime."
On his page on "X" (formerly Twitter), he tweeted: "August 4, 2020, at 18:07 – the time of destruction and the great crime... As for our time, it is the time for justice, restoring the rule of law and institutions, the dignity of the citizen, and revealing the inevitable truth."
**Bassil**
Jebran Bassil, the head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," emphasized in "the third anniversary of the most heinous crime" that "the port explosion affected us all, the truth has been abducted from all of us, and the judiciary is either incapable or complicit at our expense." He stated via social media that "it is unacceptable after three years for the investigation to be in this state, and for there to be no actual suspects except for functional negligence, while no one is accused regarding the nitrates or the possibility of a terrorist act."
Bassil focused on the fact that "if the injustice against those who have been abducted in the name of justice is lifted, that is not enough. Every responsible individual who possesses a moral sense must provide their testimony to the judiciary without excuses, and every judge must do their job without politicization; however, that is also not enough." He insisted that "the truth is a right... even through an international investigation." He announced, "It is our right to know if this crime is merely negligence and a set of coincidences, or a deliberate sabotage act by Israel or others," emphasizing that "it is not permissible for this crime to remain unpunished. True, the anniversary is painful, but the pain resides in the daily lives of people, in a country that is free from punishment, where criminals are not punished, and the oppressed are not supported." He also mentioned that "the entire population has been stolen, and there has not been sufficient punishment to date. The port and the capital exploded, and there has been no serious investigation, nor any indication that the judiciary will move. It seems the goal was to only conduct a political campaign under the title 'he was aware,' indicating that 'today, all of you know, so what are you doing other than bringing people to despair without punishment and justice?'"
Bassil stressed that "therefore, after the experience of the European judiciary in financial corruption, I, Jebran Bassil, the most opposed to foreign and international interference in Lebanon, demand an international investigation into the port explosion, let the countries show us their love and concern for Lebanon and its truth."
**Geagea**
Samir Geagea, president of the Lebanese Forces party, stated that justice in the port explosion is part of "the whole," and if the situation in Lebanon is not addressed, "we certainly will not achieve justice." Geagea mentioned in a radio interview that "from the first moment after the talk of an investigation within five days, we immediately resorted to an international fact-finding committee because we do not trust the authority, and we were aware that it would halt investigations."
He added: "Unfortunately, we were surprised, six months ago during our rounds on the diplomatic circles, that the five major countries did not want to delve into investigations because they did not want to create an additional problem with Iran." He stressed that the "Lebanese Forces" has been supporting the investigation since the first moment, noting that it confronted attempts to hand the case over to the ordinary judiciary and the Higher Council for the Trial of Deputies and Ministers. Geagea also addressed the families of the victims, saying: "We will not abandon you, and we want you not to despair, and we will continue until the end, but the most important thing to know is that the case is related to the situation of the state during all previous stages, so we must direct all our efforts towards achieving the truth."
He affirmed that "if I had been in the presidency on August 4, 2020, the explosion would not have happened at all in the Beirut port, and matters should have been conducted in the state as they should."
**Progressive Socialist Party**
The Progressive Socialist Party reiterated, "On the third anniversary of the catastrophic explosion at the Beirut port, its firm position alongside the families of the victims and the injured and affected in demanding the continuation of investigations and distancing them from politicization, as well as explicitly determining and assigning responsibilities to all those suspected of negligence or involvement in this tragedy that has led to a catastrophe that years will not erase, nor will it be diluted by deals or local or external interventions that seek to obscure the course of the investigation."
The statement emphasized its adherence to "the demand for an international investigation as a substitute for the stalled course of local investigations and the fragmentation facing the judiciary in this file," stating: "It raises again the critical questions that were raised since the explosion about who brought in the nitrates, who allowed their storage and for whose benefit, how they were smuggled out of the port, who used them and where? Comprehensive answers to these questions are sufficient to reveal the largest part of the truth, leading to the establishment of justice for the souls of the martyrs, the injured, and for Beirut and Lebanon."
**Amal Movement**
The political bureau of the "Amal Movement" paused "in reverence on the anniversary of the Beirut port explosion before the magnitude of what happened and its devastating consequences on the capital and its neighborhoods," recalling "the martyrs and innocent wounded who shed their blood on the altar of the nation." The statement confirmed that "the main responsibility for all concerned is to complete the investigations and properly guide them within the constitutional and legal framework to ensure justice for the souls and comfort of the martyrs and their families, while exercising national responsibility in adhering to the rules away from politicization and exploitation of people's suffering for factional interests."
The bureau reiterated its call, along with all the affected by this crime, for "the state to carry out the reconstruction and restoration of the affected areas and compensate them to restore life to them," stressing the need to "launch a reconstruction project for the Beirut port so that it may restore its activity and role in the national economy."
**Maawad**
Michel Moawad, head of the Independence Movement, stated from the August 4 movement today, that "the issue of the Beirut port explosion is not only the issue of the people of Beirut, but of all the Lebanese; it is a national issue, and we are fighting a battle for justice that coincides with the issue of lifting hegemony over the state, and as long as the regime exists, we will not see accountability."
He continued: "We will continue our struggle until the end to achieve justice and deliver a safe homeland to our children, and we trust no one but ourselves, and we will use all available means to achieve justice, having previously passed through the experience of the international court that taught us, thanks to it, who killed the martyr Prime Minister Rafik Hariri by name."
**Bukhari**
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari stood for a minute of silence in honor of the souls of the victims of the Beirut port explosion, expressing solidarity with their families "with whom we share their pain and know how eager they are to know the truth."
**Frontica**
The United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Iwona Frontica, also announced a minute of silence in honor of the souls of the victims of the Beirut port explosion, at a time when cries for justice resound. She stated: "Three years after this horrific explosion, the investigations remain stagnant, and grief increases. Lebanon needs the truth, justice, and accountability to overcome this ordeal and restore the credibility of the state."
**German Ambassador**
The German Ambassador to Lebanon, Andreas Kindl, pointed out that after three years of illusion, "Beirut will rise again without justice, accountability, and truth."
**Judges' Club**
The Judges' Club of Lebanon stressed "the necessity of completing the investigation into the Beirut port explosion quickly and without any obstacles." It stated in a statement that "the system of impunity constitutes, in itself, a crime against the homeland, the moral basis of which is the intent to obscure the truth and conceal its features, and its material basis is the assassination of justice." The club reminded that "the solution lies in enacting effective legislation for the independence of the judiciary and amending legal texts that hinder serious and effective prosecution."
**Tony Frangieh**
MP Tony Frangieh emphasized on the third anniversary of the Beirut port explosion that "the complete pursuit of the truth and achieving true justice is the only way to heal the wounds. Mercy for the martyrs."
**Talal Arslan**
Leader of the Democratic Lebanese Party, Talal Arslan, tweeted: "Three years have passed since one of the greatest tragedies in the history of Lebanon and the Lebanese, an event that shook the world and turned the lives of thousands of Lebanese upside down. Nevertheless, the current prevailing system in the country managed to obscure the truth, dilute responsibilities, accuse innocent individuals, and turn a blind eye to involved people. The system was able to increase the rift and division internally over a case that the whole universe agreed upon its horrendous nature. The truth of the August 4 explosion will not die, and those responsible will be revealed, even if after a while, and they will be held accountable on the day of reckoning."
**George Bouchikian**
For his part, Minister of Industry in the caretaker government, MP George Bouchikian, stated in a statement that "the memory of August 4 has left a deep mark in popular memory and in the history of the homeland, one that will not be forgotten even if the truth is revealed and justice is achieved." He said: "No one can replace the families of the martyrs and the victims tormented by the loss of their loved ones. No words will suffice, nor will any feelings be enough to empathize with the families. But the crime of the century will not go unpunished, and justice will be achieved."
**Nadine Gemayel**
MP Nadine Gemayel stated: "For three years, Beirut has lost its finest youth, elderly, and children. For three years, the families of Beirut have lost their loved ones and their homes. We pray today for the souls of the victims and their families, and for all the affected. Our will is strong, and our attachment to our country and our city is immense, and no matter the difficulties, Beirut will rise again, and Lebanon will stand tall, thanks to the sacrifices of its martyrs and the faith and perseverance of its people."
**"The People Want to Reform the System"**
The "The People Want to Reform the System" association issued the following statement: "Three years have passed, and the criminal is freely walking due to a judicial and political decision from the regime accused of this crime—over two hundred martyrs and two thousand wounded along with the destruction of Beirut. The judiciary is still settling political and personal scores at the altar of martyrdom and sacrifices. What could be a more obscene scene than what we are in, where the crime of the century is treated with contempt for our pain and suffering, as those tasked with uncovering the truth strive to obscure it and hide evidence that could reveal the perpetrators of this crime?"
The association confirmed its continued support for the families of the martyrs and the wounded and all those affected, stating that "it will not hesitate to raise its voice always, and take all measures aimed at uncovering the perpetrators to prepare for their trial before both the Lebanese and international courts."
