A 70-year-old Lebanese man has remained trapped beneath the rubble of his home in southern Lebanon for days as rescue teams wait for clearance through the US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism , in a case that has intensified criticism of restrictions on life-saving operations in areas targeted by Israeli attacks.
Hamid Tawbe has been missing under the ruins of his home in the town of Burj Qalaway since last week, following intense Israeli bombardment despite a ceasefire that formally remains in effect.
His family has appealed to the Lebanese army and the international community to intervene after losing contact with him at around 10 am on Thursday following a wave of Israeli air strikes, according to local media reports.
Relatives say search and rescue teams have been unable to reach the site because the mechanism, the US-led committee responsible for monitoring the cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel, has yet to grant the necessary clearance.
The case has become a symbol of growing anger in Lebanon over delays affecting humanitarian and rescue operations in southern areas repeatedly targeted by Israeli attacks.
"The Mechanism 'has not granted permission for life-saving interventions' is a sentence that we're hearing more frequently now, and it is not right," Cilina Nasser, a human rights expert and former UN investigator, told The New Arab , noting that "Hamid Tawbe's case is not an isolated incident." View this post on Instagram A post shared by موقع يا صور (@yasourpage) The mechanism was established following the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and includes representatives from Lebanon, the United States, France, Israel and UNIFIL.
Its mandate is to monitor and facilitate the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement, coordinate security arrangements and oversee aspects of the ceasefire.
However, its role has come under increasing scrutiny since Israel resumed its large-scale military campaign in Lebanon on 2 March.
One of the main points of contention is the requirement for coordination before rescue teams, humanitarian workers and Lebanese authorities can enter certain areas deemed sensitive or exposed to Israeli attacks.
In some cases, aid deliveries, recovery operations and searches for missing people have reportedly been delayed for hours or even days while approvals are sought.
Nasser said the mechanism's official role remains limited.
"The Mechanism's mandate is to monitor and facilitate the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement that went into effect on 27 November 2024," she said.
"De facto, the Mechanism is the channel between the Israeli army, the United States and the Lebanese army, so we cannot say that its role has become operational control."
At the same time, she warned that the committee risks damaging its credibility when life-saving operations are delayed.
"By relaying messages of Israeli decisions that are in clear contravention of international humanitarian law, the Mechanism risks being seen as involved or participating in decisions that are incompatible with core humanitarian principles," she said.
"Can you imagine how damaging for its credibility when rescue workers and families of casualties say, 'we are still waiting for the Mechanism to grant us permission' to carry out a search and rescue operation, and such permission does not come for hours or for days?" Nasser said.
"The point is that life-saving missions are given protection and unhindered access to conflict areas under international law. They are being delayed for hours and sometimes days," she added. Mechanism under scrutiny The ceasefire mechanism has become increasingly controversial in Lebanon as Israel continues its offensive despite the truce agreement. Many accuse the committee of failing to halt Israeli violations while creating additional obstacles for humanitarian operations on the ground.
A source in the Lebanese military told The New Arab that the army does not seek permission from the committee before carrying out operations.
"The army does not take permission from the mechanism committee, but communication and coordination must be carried out before entering places considered highly sensitive or subjected to Israeli bombardment in order to secure safe entry and avoid attacks," the source said.
The source added that coordination is conducted primarily with US officials, while French representatives are also involved in communications.
Other actors, including UNIFIL, have also communicated directly with the mechanism when access is required to border areas.
Bahaa Halal, a researcher in military affairs and strategic relations, said a distinction must be made between the committee's formal mandate and the practical role it has come to play during the war.
He noted that, from a legal perspective, the mechanism has no sovereignty over Lebanese territory and was never intended to replace Lebanese state institutions.
Nevertheless, he said ambulances, rescue teams and even the Lebanese army often find themselves relying on coordination through the mechanism to avoid being targeted during Israeli bombardment.
"Coordination has turned from a security measure into a tool of political and military influence, and this is what happened in the case of journalist Amal Khalil," Halal said.
"The question is, does the Lebanese Army, civil defence, or the Red Cross have the right to act as sovereign owners of their land, or is their action practically conditional on the approval of an international mechanism?"