Franco-Lebanese Man Sues Israel in France Over Uprooted Olive Trees

A 37-year-old Franco-Lebanese businessman has filed a civil lawsuit in France against Israel and the IDF, accusing them of destroying approximately 600 olive trees in Zawtar Sharqieh, southern Lebanon. His family claims to have cultivated the land for about 250 years, with some of the uprooted trees reportedly being centuries old. The plaintiff alleges the trees were entirely removed and suspects some may have been transferred to Israel. He also states his family home was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike shortly before an April 2026 ceasefire announcement. According to the lawsuit, the IDF then controlled the area before the olive trees were uprooted after a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon in late June. The plaintiff asserts he is not affiliated with Hezbollah and that there was no evidence his property was used for military purposes by the group. The Israeli military previously acknowledged in August the potential environmental impact of its operations in the region and stated it was taking measures to limit civilian and environmental damage. The IDF did not provide a new response when contacted again regarding this lawsuit. This legal action is one of several filed in France by Franco-Lebanese individuals concerning Israeli military operations in Lebanon.