Hundreds Gather to Mark Five Years Since Beirut Blast, but Justice Remains Elusive
Commemoration at Beirut's coast marks half-decade since deadly port explosion, with calls for accountability still unfulfilled.
Hundreds of Lebanese gathered solemnly near Beirut’s coast on Monday to commemorate a half-decade since the cataclysmic port blast of 2020, which resulted in over 200 fatalities and remains one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history.
Attendees held Lebanese flags and portraits of some victims, expressing deep disappointment that no individuals have been held accountable for the explosion.
William Noun, whose brother Joseph—a firefighter—was killed in the blast, questioned why accountability has not been achieved five years later.
He called for closure, emphasizing the need to avoid a sixth year without justice.
The explosion destroyed significant portions of Beirut and displaced tens of thousands of people.
During the commemoration, the names of all deceased were read aloud as protesters faced the remnants of the Beirut grain silos, heavily damaged in the blast that continued to deteriorate for years afterward.
At 6:07 p.m., marking the time of the explosion, attendees observed a moment of silence.
Catherine Otayek, who did not lose anyone but made it her duty to attend every year, expressed frustration over the lack of answers and hope for justice.
The port blast occurred during Lebanon’s severe economic collapse and was followed by political turmoil, including a war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2023.
The explosion is believed to have been initiated by a fire at a warehouse containing hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate.
Lebanese officials initially promised a swift investigation but encountered numerous legal challenges and political interference, effectively halting the probe.
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who came into power this year, pledged to hold those responsible for the blast accountable, regardless of their affiliations.
Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation in recent months and questioned several officials but has yet to issue a preliminary indictment, which many Lebanese hoped for by the anniversary.
Advocates for accountability, such as Paul Naggear whose three-year-old daughter was killed, called for a comprehensive and complete preliminary indictment that would reveal those responsible for the evacuation failures during the blast.
Rights groups like Amnesty International emphasized that the delayed justice is equivalent to denied justice for the families of victims who have endured five years without answers or accountability.
Attendees held Lebanese flags and portraits of some victims, expressing deep disappointment that no individuals have been held accountable for the explosion.
William Noun, whose brother Joseph—a firefighter—was killed in the blast, questioned why accountability has not been achieved five years later.
He called for closure, emphasizing the need to avoid a sixth year without justice.
The explosion destroyed significant portions of Beirut and displaced tens of thousands of people.
During the commemoration, the names of all deceased were read aloud as protesters faced the remnants of the Beirut grain silos, heavily damaged in the blast that continued to deteriorate for years afterward.
At 6:07 p.m., marking the time of the explosion, attendees observed a moment of silence.
Catherine Otayek, who did not lose anyone but made it her duty to attend every year, expressed frustration over the lack of answers and hope for justice.
The port blast occurred during Lebanon’s severe economic collapse and was followed by political turmoil, including a war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2023.
The explosion is believed to have been initiated by a fire at a warehouse containing hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate.
Lebanese officials initially promised a swift investigation but encountered numerous legal challenges and political interference, effectively halting the probe.
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who came into power this year, pledged to hold those responsible for the blast accountable, regardless of their affiliations.
Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation in recent months and questioned several officials but has yet to issue a preliminary indictment, which many Lebanese hoped for by the anniversary.
Advocates for accountability, such as Paul Naggear whose three-year-old daughter was killed, called for a comprehensive and complete preliminary indictment that would reveal those responsible for the evacuation failures during the blast.
Rights groups like Amnesty International emphasized that the delayed justice is equivalent to denied justice for the families of victims who have endured five years without answers or accountability.
