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Lebanon commemorates Sabra & Shatila massacre

Friday, 16 September 2022 5:57 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 16 September 2022 5:57 PM ]

Marian Saleh
Press TV, Beirut

Lebanese and Palestinian factions, in addition to dozens of foreign activists, have attended the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut. After an in-door ceremony where speakers reiterated their calls for justice, a march to the burial site took many witnesses, including foreign health workers back to a terrifying and bloody event.

Kamal Maaruf lost his son and several family members and friends whom he says went missing just before the killings began. Since 1982, he keeps a record of all documents related to the horrific event, and he stresses that he will never forget.

Relatives of the victims of the massacre filed a lawsuit against Ariel Sharon in September 2003, but Belgium's Supreme Court dismissed the war crimes case.

The Lebanese right-wing phalange militia stormed the Sabra and Shatila towns in September 1982, with the assistance of Israeli soldiers and tanks, which were occupying Lebanon at the time. After two days and two nights, innumerable people were killed or went missing to the extent that official references lost count.

Though records are inaccurate, the families of the victims say some 2000 Palestinian and Lebanese civilians were slaughtered in this very Camp by militiamen assisted by Israeli occupation forces. Activists say this remains the most horrific single mass killing committed by Israel and its collaborators.

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