Israel’s use of chemical weapons in Lebanon and Syria

Question for written answer E-001225/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Rima Hassan (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Younous Omarjee (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left)

Between late January and early February 2026, Israeli aircraft sprayed chemical substances on farmland in southern Lebanon[1] and Syria[2], destroying dozens of hectares. According to the Lebanese authorities, the substances that were used contained extremely high concentrations of glyphosate.

At the beginning of March, Human Rights Watch also documented[3] the use of white phosphorous in residential areas of Lebanon. The UN has called for an international inquiry[4] and Lebanon announced that it would be filing a complaint to the UN[5].

This 'scorched-earth' policy targeting resources indispensable to the survival of the local population appears to be a clear breach of international humanitarian law and an attack on state sovereignty, which runs counter to the principles of the UN Charter.

• 1.These acts have been documented by independent organisations (Human Rights Watch[6], Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor[7] and Green Southerners[8]) and local authorities[9]. Does the Commission take the view that they constitute a clear breach of international humanitarian law?
• 2.Will this information be instrumental in the review of the human rights clause, with a view to suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement?
• 3.What specific action does the Commission plan to take in response to these violations to ensure that people and the environment are protected?

Submitted: 24.3.2026

• [1] https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/02/09/lebanon-condemns-israeli-glyphosate-attack-in-country-s-south_6750310_4.html
• [2] https://www.france24.com/fr/moyen-orient/20260213-syrie-champs-asperg%C3%A9s-herbicides-par-isra%C3%ABl-sud-liban-cisjordanie
• [3] https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/09/lebanon-israel-unlawfully-using-white-phosphorus
• [4] https://news.un.org/fr/story/2026/02/1158361
• [5] https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1493801/le-liban-denonce-la-pulverisation-de-glyphosate-par-israel-et-prepare-une-plainte-a-lonu.html
• [6] https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/09/lebanon-israel-unlawfully-using-white-phosphorus
• [7] https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6973/Israel%E2%80%99s-chemical-spraying-of-farmland-in-Lebanon-and-Syria-amounts-to-war-crime,-targets-civilian-survival
• [8] https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1493727/les-matieres-toxiques-pulverisees-par-israel-accelereront-la-degradation-environnementale-denonce-une-ong.html
• [9] https://x.com/MoaLebanon/status/2019100373794058292