A/HRC/2/7 page 5 II. GENERAL CONTEXT 6. The history of Lebanon and Israel is marked by tensions and a succession of conflicts, notably in 1978 and 1982. In May 2000, the Government of Israel withdrew its troops from Lebanon as requested by the Security Council in resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978). On 2 September 2004, the Council adopted resolution 1559 (2004) in which it reiterated its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon and called upon all remaining forces to withdraw from Lebanon, and for the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias. In April 2005, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic withdrew its troops from Lebanon which had been present on Lebanese territory since 1976. Despite the continuing dialogue on the issue within Lebanon, Hezbollah has not yet disarmed despite the Lebanese Cabinet decision stipulating that “there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese State”.2 7. On 12 July 2006, Hezbollah fighters crossed the border into Israel, attacked an Israeli patrol near the village of Zarit, killed eight Israeli soldiers and returned to Lebanon with two captured Israeli soldiers. This triggered a major armed conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Lebanon suffered air, sea and land attacks, and Hezbollah launched thousands of rockets on northern Israel. 8. The conflict had far-reaching effects on the civilian population. In Lebanon, 1,191 people were reportedly killed and 4,405 wounded.3 Children accounted for one third of casualties and deaths and an estimated 45 per cent of internally displaced persons (IDPs).4 Tens of thousands of homes and much public infrastructure were damaged or destroyed and up to an estimated 1 million persons were displaced. Humanitarian access to those who were unable or unwilling to leave endangered areas became difficult and limited, and some communities were isolated for prolonged periods of time. 9. In Israel, Magen David Adom statistics indicate that 43 civilians were killed, including seven children. One third of those killed were Arab Israelis. Seventy-five civilians were seriously injured, 115 suffered moderate wounds and 807 suffered light wounds.5 Several hundred thousand persons were displaced and many more forced to live for some of the time in shelters. 6 10. On 11 August 2006, the Security Council adopted resolution 1701 (2006) in which the Council, inter alia, called for “a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations”, emphasized “the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory” and expanding the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its mandate. 11. On the same day, the Human Rights Council convened its second special session. In resolution S-2/1 the Council strongly condemned the grave Israeli violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law in Lebanon. It further decided to establish and immediately dispatch a high-level commission of inquiry to investigate, inter alia, the systematic targeting of civilians by Israel in Lebanon and to assess the impact of Israeli attacks on human life, property, critical infrastructure and the environment.