The Minister of National Defense in the caretaker government, Maurice Sleiman, stated that "condemnation of the massacres committed by the Israeli enemy against innocent people in Lebanon and Palestine is no longer sufficient, no matter how many expressions of denunciation and condemnation it includes. This is because the Israeli aggressive practices have surpassed all norms and conventions, in addition to their blatant violation of international agreements and charters, especially in times of war." He added: "In this case, it is obvious that the Arab and international positions must be practical, decisive, and deterrent to restrain the enemy and put an end to its crimes, particularly those committed against civilians, children, and women. The most recent of these was yesterday in the south, where three young girls were martyred along with their grandmother when their civilian car was targeted while transporting them with their mother, who is still receiving care in the hospital, resulting in a family tragedy that words cannot describe."
Minister Sleiman pointed out that "Lebanon's commitment to Resolution 1701 and its concern for implementing its provisions through the Lebanese army deployed along the borders, in cooperation with the international forces (UNIFIL), does not necessarily mean that Israeli aggressions and the killing of the innocent in their homes and on the roads can continue without accountability. Such actions target Lebanese national sovereignty on one hand and violate international resolutions on the other hand. Furthermore, these actions constitute a direct threat to the peace that the states participating in UNIFIL have pledged to maintain in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions."
