A Lebanese environmental activist was killed by Israeli military fire near the border on Wednesday, prompting condemnations from British charities and raising fresh concerns over the deteriorating security situation in southern Lebanon. The victim, identified as 46-year-old Antoine al-Hajj, was a prominent figure in local conservation efforts and had been monitoring migratory bird patterns in the disputed Shebaa Farms area when he was struck. He died at the scene.
The Israeli Defence Forces acknowledged firing towards what they described as “suspicious movement” but did not confirm Hajj’s involvement in any militant activity. The incident follows weeks of heightened tensions along the Blue Line, with exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces becoming more frequent since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October. British charities including Oxfam and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) issued a joint statement expressing “profound shock” and calling for an independent investigation.
“This is an unconscionable act against a civilian engaged in peaceful scientific work,” the statement read. “The targeting of environmentalists threatens not only lives but also the fragile ecosystems that sustain communities across the region.” The UK Foreign Office has not yet commented directly but is understood to be in contact with both Lebanese and Israeli authorities.
The killing underscores the collateral damage of a conflict that has repeatedly spilled beyond Gaza’s borders. For conservationists working in contested zones, the risks have become increasingly acute. Hajj’s death marks the first known fatality of an environmental worker in the current wave of violence, but analysts warn it will not be the last unless diplomatic channels are reopened.
