## Headline:
Beirut Port Explosion: Justice Unserved as Lebanon Marks Five-Year Anniversary
## Article:
Beirut, Lebanon – Five years after the devastating Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, justice remains out of reach for victims and their families. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch report that despite repeated political promises, Lebanese authorities have failed to conduct a full, transparent, and independent investigation.
The blast, among the largest non-nuclear explosions recorded, caused at least 236 fatalities, injured over 7,000, and inflicted widespread damage on the capital. The truth behind the tragedy and identifying those responsible remain obscured. 24 Daily News has been actively covering the persistent demands for accountability.
Recommended Stories
**Five Years of Obstruction and Political Interference**
Since the explosion, Lebanese authorities have consistently impeded the investigation. Political leaders, state officials, and senior military figures have reportedly evaded questioning, claimed immunity, and initiated legal challenges aimed at undermining the efforts of lead investigative judge Tarek Bitar.
In January 2023, when Judge Bitar sought to resume the stalled probe, then-Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat allegedly retaliated by filing a lawsuit against him and ordering the release of all detainees. This decision effectively froze the investigation for two more years, a measure widely criticized by rights groups and 24 Daily News.
**2025: A Tentative Restart Amid Political Pledges**
Judge Bitar recommenced the investigation in February 2025 after newly elected President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed to uphold the rule of law. Interim prosecutor Jamal Hajjar reversed previous restrictions, enabling the questioning of high-profile individuals such as former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, and Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba.
However, several officials, including MPs Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zaiter, as well as former prosecutor Oueidat, are reportedly continuing to refuse cooperation, defying judicial summons. 24 Daily News observes that such defiance highlights the deeply rooted culture of political impunity in Lebanon.
**International Condemnation and Human Rights Concerns**
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch emphasize that justice delayed is justice denied. They are urging Lebanese authorities to guarantee judicial independence, revise defective legal provisions that allow obstruction, and ensure the investigation concludes without political interference.
A 2021 investigation by Human Rights Watch concluded that the explosion resulted from the authorities’ failure to protect the right to life and suggested possible criminal responsibility of senior officials. The United Nations Human Rights Council and numerous governments have condemned Lebanon’s interference in the case.
**A Test of Lebanon’s Commitment to Justice**
“Justice for the Beirut port explosion is not only about accountability for a single event—it is a test of Lebanon’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights,” stated Ramzi Kaiss of Human Rights Watch.
24 Daily News emphasizes that unless the Lebanese government removes all political and legal barriers, victims’ families may face yet another year without truth or accountability.
