Lebanese Artist Ali Cherri Takes a Stand by Filing Complaint Over Parents’ Deaths in Israeli Strike

Lebanese-French Artist Ali Cherri Files War Crime Complaint in France

Lebanese-French artist and filmmaker Ali Cherri, in collaboration with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has submitted a formal complaint in France related to the killing of his parents during an Israeli airstrike in Beirut in 2024.

Cherri, who splits his time between Paris and Beirut, is recognized as one of Lebanon’s leading contemporary artists. His work has been showcased in prestigious venues including the Guggenheim and Tate Modern, and his debut feature film, The Dam, premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2023.

The official complaint was filed with the French War Crimes Unit, regarding the bombing of a residential building on November 26, 2024. The airstrike resulted in the deaths of seven civilians, including Cherri’s parents, Mahmoud Naim Cherri and Nadira Hayek, as well as a domestic worker, Birki Negesa.

This tragic event unfolded at the end of a spike in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah during fall 2024, coinciding with the Israeli military operation known as Northern Arrows, aimed at dismantling the Iran-backed group. The attack occurred mere hours before a ceasefire was set to take effect.

The complaint, which targets unknown perpetrators, condemns the Israeli military’s bombing of a civilian object, potentially constituting a war crime under French law and international humanitarian law. The FIDH, utilizing digital reconstruction efforts from the organization Forensic Architecture and documentation from Amnesty International, asserts that the attack was not only deliberate but also highlights the accountability of the Israeli military.

"As a son, a citizen, and a victim, it is my duty to ensure that this war crime committed by the Israeli army is recognized for what it is, so that it may be brought to justice—for my parents and for all the civilians killed that day," Cherri stated. "Justice cannot undo death, but seeking justice means refusing to let impunity lead to the destruction of other lives."

Observing the broader context, FIDH notes that the deaths of Cherri’s parents are part of a concerning trend, with an estimated 4,300 civilian casualties reported in Lebanon as Israel pursued its military objectives against Hezbollah.

Wadih Al-Asmar, co-founder and president of the Lebanese Center for Human Rights, characterized Cherri’s legal action as a significant step toward holding the Israeli military accountable for the crimes against civilians in Lebanon.

“These attacks constitute a clear and repeated violation of international humanitarian law, which mandates the distinction between military objectives and civilian populations,” said Clémence Bectarte, a lawyer for the FIDH. She emphasized that the French justice system must ensure accountability, especially when its own citizens are impacted.

The complaint arrives shortly after the death of noted cameraman and director Mohamad Shehab, along with his four-year-old daughter, Taline, in an Israeli strike on March 11, 2026. Shehab had been documenting the aftermath of the airstrike that killed Cherri’s parents as part of his work for Forensic Architecture. His wife, Natalie Kamal El-Din, remains in critical condition in the hospital.

According to reports, the Israeli military stated that the strike was directed at a suspected Hezbollah commander and occurred without an evacuation order. The FIDH emphasized that the circumstances surrounding Shehab’s death are reminiscent of the previous attacks, underscoring a troubling trend of increased Israeli military operations in Lebanon that disproportionately affect civilians.