General updates :

On 26 June, Lebanon, Israel, and the United States signed a U.S.-mediated framework agreement in Washington aimed at advancing a phased process toward ending hostilities and restoring stability along the Lebanese-Israeli border. Described by all parties as an initial step rather than a final peace agreement, the framework provides for a gradual transfer of security responsibilities to the Lebanese Armed Forces in designated areas of southern Lebanon, mechanisms for future Israeli withdrawal linked to security conditions, and the establishment of a trilateral coordination mechanism to oversee implementation.

Freedom of expression

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, submitted to the Human Rights Council at its sixty-second session (June-July 2026) guidelines for the protection of journalists in areas of armed conflict, stressing that journalists enjoy protection as civilians and this protection is not forfeited simply because they are accused of belonging to a party to the conflict, and that journalistic work in itself does not constitute participation in hostilities.

At the judicial level, developments during the reporting period also raised concerns regarding the criminalization of journalistic work. On 9 June 2026, the Mount Lebanon Press Court issued a decision sentencing journalist Rami Naim to three months in prison with a fine for defamation and slander. This decision is considered shocking, especially since press courts usually impose fines rather than imprisonment.

Similarly, security measures targeting journalists continued to contribute to a restrictive environment for freedom of expression. On 20 July 2026, journalist Hassan Alik was summoned by the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces at the direction of the Public Prosecutor of Cassation, following a tweet expressing solidarity with Yemen against Saudi Arabia.

These developments formed part of a broader pattern of scrutiny directed at individuals expressing political opinions. Concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression in Lebanon continued following the questioning of individuals over their political opinions. On 7 July 2026, journalist Sawsan Mhanna and academic Dr. Zeina Mansour were questioned by Lebanese security agencies over views they had expressed publicly. Mhanna was summoned following a complaint regarding an X post criticizing Hezbollah's alleged role in infrastructure damage in Beirut's southern suburbs, while Mansour linked her interrogation to her public advocacy for federalism, peace with Israel, political reform, and criticism of the political establishment.

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

Following the signing of the U.S.-brokered Lebanon–Israel framework agreement, protests were reported in Beirut and several other areas of Lebanon between 26 and 27 June. Demonstrations began shortly after the announcement and were led mainly by Hezbollah supporters and allied groups rejecting the agreement. In Beirut’s southern suburbs and other districts, protesters carried out motorcycle convoys, road blockages, and street gatherings, including blocking key routes such as access roads toward the airport. The demonstrations expressed opposition to the agreement, which they viewed as externally imposed and politically sensitive given its security implications.