UN experts condemn killing of Hamas deputy leader as unlawful

UN international law experts on Tuesday criticised the killing of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri and other fighters in drone strikes in Lebanon, stating that these actions constitute extrajudicial killings and murder.

Israel has not officially acknowledged or denied its involvement in the death of Arouri. His death occurred a month after Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, declared its intention to pursue Hamas members in Lebanon, Turkey, and Qatar.

"Killings in foreign territory are arbitrary when they are not authorised under international law," the two UN special rapporteurs, Ben Saul and Morris Tidball-Binz, said in a statement issued in Geneva.

"Israel was not exercising self-defence because it presented no evidence that the victims were committing an armed attack on Israel from Lebanese territory."

The UN special rapporteurs also said there was "no legal basis for geographically unlimited attacks against members of an armed group wherever they are".