Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned Lebanese authorities on Monday over their continued inaction concerning the devastating explosion in Beirut’s port on August 4, 2020. The blast, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, killed at least 236 people, injured 7,000, and destroyed large parts of the capital. HRW said authorities have failed to deliver an explanation to victims and their families.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Reina Wehbi, Amnesty International’s Lebanon campaigner. “The families of those killed and injured in the Beirut explosion have waited an intolerable five years. They must not be forced to endure another year of impunity.”

Despite repeated calls for accountability from domestic and international actors, Lebanese authorities have failed to conduct a credible, independent, and impartial investigation. The inquiry has been repeatedly obstructed by political leaders and state officials seeking to shield themselves from responsibility.

The investigation, led by Judge Tarek Bitar, has faced repeated suspensions due to legal challenges and non-cooperation from high-level officials. Many summoned for questioning, including former ministers and members of parliament, have refused to appear, invoking immunity and filing lawsuits to derail the process. In 2023, former public prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat filed charges against Judge Bitar, effectively freezing the investigation and ordering the release of detainees.

A glimmer of progress came in early 2025, when the newly appointed interim top prosecutor, Jamal Hajjar, overturned prior decisions and allowed Bitar to resume work. Some key figures, including former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and two senior security officials, complied with questioning. Still others, like MPs Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zaiter, continue to evade accountability.

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have pledged to support the investigation. However, human rights organizations warn that without concrete legal reforms and judicial independence, meaningful justice will remain out of reach.

A 2021 Human Rights Watch report found the explosion was the result of state negligence and may amount to a violation of the right to life. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch emphasize that justice for the Beirut explosion is not just about a single event. Rather, it is a critical test of Lebanon’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.