Lebanon has reversed a move to authorise the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged war crimes on its soil, prompting a prominent rights group to deplore what it called the loss of an “historic opportunity” for justice.

In April, Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet voted to instruct the foreign ministry to file a declaration with the ICC authorising it to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes on Lebanese territory since October 7.

Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib never filed the requested declaration and a day ago, the cabinet published an amended decision that omitted mention of the ICC, saying Lebanon would file complaints to the United Nations instead.

Habib did not respond to a Reuters question on why he did not file the requested declaration.

Read more here.