By PRFSU Writers 2023-2024 
Photo Credit: Associated Press
By Jet Holmes
As the world moves beyond 2024, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to draw international attention. One recent development has been Israel’s use of explosive devices disguised as electronic pagers, a tactic that has raised significant humanitarian and legal concerns.
On September 17, 2024, Israel detonated modified electronic pagers linked to the Lebanese political and militant group Hezbollah. These explosions resulted in nine fatalities and approximately 3,000 injuries. Victims included Hezbollah members as well as essential workers, such as medics. This methodology, coupled with the implications for international law, has spurred widespread debate.
According to reports, the attacks were orchestrated by Israeli intelligence services, which intercepted and modified the communication devices at the production level. On September 18, Israel launched a similar attack using rigged walkie-talkies, causing over 20 additional deaths and injuring more than 450 people. In response, Hezbollah publicly vowed retaliation. These events are contextualized within the broader escalation of violence following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, a Palestinian group allied with Hezbollah.
Due to the unconventional nature of these attacks, experts in international and humanitarian law have called for investigations into potential violations. Much of the discussion centers on Amended Protocol II of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which prohibits the use of “mines, booby traps, and other devices” considered excessively injurious. Richard Moyes, acting director of the NGO Article 36, has argued that Israel’s actions constitute a “direct breach” of these rules. Similar critiques have been made by UN human rights experts, who contend that the attacks were indiscriminate, impacting individuals beyond Hezbollah combatants. The United Nations has yet to formally address the issue.
Meanwhile, the United States, a key ally of Israel, has emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense. However, the Biden administration has also shifted focus toward de-escalation, seeking to mitigate the broader regional impact of these events.
The explosive pager attacks are part of a chain of incidents that have intensified tensions in the Middle East. Nine days after the Beirut explosions, Israel conducted an airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, significantly weakening the group’s organizational capabilities. This marked a turning point in the conflict. On November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement was reached with mediation from the United States and France. While the ceasefire has been welcomed as a step forward, stakeholders remain cautious, awaiting a lasting resolution to the cycle of violence.
The aftermath of these events underscores the need for diplomatic efforts to address the humanitarian and legal complexities of modern warfare.