As the fifth anniversary of the devastating Beirut port explosion approaches, victims’ families and activists are cautiously optimistic about the prospect of justice being served. The blast, which killed over 218 people, including three-year-old Alexandra Naggear, injured thousands, and left a large portion of the city in ruins, has been marred by political interference and delays in the investigation.
Tracy Naggear, Alexandra’s mother, emphasized the importance of full justice being done. “The most important thing for us is not for the decision, but for full justice to happen,” she told newsmen. “And we won’t accept a half-truth or half-justice.” Naggear’s fight is not just for her daughter but for all the victims and the country. “We’re doing it for every single person that has been touched by the 4th of August, from a simple scratch to a broken window.”
The investigation into the blast has faced numerous obstacles, including well-connected politicians refusing to answer questions and the former public prosecutor blocking the investigation. However, with the new government in place, there is a sense of momentum building. Lawyer Tania Daou-Alam, whose husband Jean-Frederic Alam was killed in the blast, noted that “you can feel a positive atmosphere [this time].”
Lebanon’s new president, Joseph Aoun, and prime minister, Nawaf Salam, have expressed commitment to finding justice for the victims. In their inaugural addresses, both spoke about the importance of accountability. “My commitment is clear: We must uncover the whole truth and hold accountable those who caused this catastrophe,” Aoun said. Salam issued a memorandum declaring August 4 a day of national mourning, and the new justice minister has promised to provide all necessary help to the judge investigating the port explosion.
Judge Tarek Bitar, who has been leading the investigation, has resumed his work after being stymied by Lebanese authorities for two years. Human Rights Watch reported that Bitar has summoned several individuals for questioning, including senior security officials. “Actual individuals implicated in the case are showing up to interrogations,” Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, told newsmen.
Despite the progress, challenges persist. Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeiter, close allies of Lebanon’s Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, still refuse to appear before Judge Bitar, claiming parliamentary immunity. Daou-Alam emphasized the need for laws to protect and support the judiciary. “We are asking for laws that are able to protect and support the judiciary and the appointments of vacant judge [posts], so these things will show the government is on our side this time.”
Kaiss stressed the importance of judicial independence. “We can only get justice if the judiciary acts independently so that they can go after individuals and so the security services can act independently without political interference.” Political analyst Karim Emile Bitar noted that accountability would be a crucial step towards rebuilding trust in the government. “Accountability would be the first step for the Lebanese in Lebanon and the diaspora to regain trust,” he said. “And without trust, Lebanon will not be able to recover.”
The road to justice is long, but for the first time, there is a sense of hope. As Naggear said, “Our fight is mainly for our daughter, for Alexandra, of course. But we are doing it for all the victims and for our country.”