Meanwhile, concerns about the conflict spreading grew. From 7 October, cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah and other armed groups in south Lebanon resulted in at least four Israeli civilian deaths and at least 20 civilian deaths in Lebanon. Between 10 and 16 October, Israeli forces fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus in military operations along Lebanon’s southern border. Amnesty International called for the attack on Dhayra to be investigated as a possible war crime. On 13 October, Israeli artillery fire in southern Lebanon killed a journalist and injured six others. The same month, Israeli strikes in Syria killed eight soldiers and hit Aleppo airport four times. Since 9 October, the Israeli military struck the Rafah border crossing with Egypt numerous times, on one occasion injuring Egyptian border guards. Globally, online hatred and racism against Palestinian and Jewish communities escalated, including incitement to violence, hostility and discrimination, and some governments repressed the rights to freedom of expression and assembly to stifle pro-Palestinian demonstrations and slogans. Under international humanitarian law, all sides in a conflict must protect civilians and civilian objects. Amnesty International calls for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of civilian lives, to allow life-saving humanitarian aid to reach those in desperate need in Gaza, and for independent international investigations into crimes under international law committed by all parties. It calls for the immediate release of all civilian hostages held by Hamas, and of all Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel. The international community should impose a comprehensive arms embargo on all parties to the conflict. OTHER VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW Other long-standing regional armed conflicts and their aftermaths devastated the lives of millions of people, with parties to the conflicts – some backed by foreign governments – committing war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. In the 12th year of the conflict in Syria, all parties and their allies carried out unlawful attacks, killing civilians and destroying vital infrastructure. The Syrian government, supported by Russian government forces, launched multiple unlawful ground attacks and from October escalated aerial attacks on civilians and civilian objects in north-west Syria, killing dozens of civilians and displacing tens of thousands. In Libya, militias and armed groups carried out unlawful attacks and used weapons with wide area effects in residential neighbourhoods, killing and wounding civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure during armed hostilities. Thousands remained arbitrarily detained in relation to the conflict or for their tribal or political affiliations. In Yemen, despite a decline in armed conflict and cross-border attacks, all parties to the conflict committed unlawful attacks and killings with impunity. All parties to armed conflicts must respect international humanitarian law, in particular ending direct attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and indiscriminate attacks. Foreign governments must stop transfers of weapons where there is an overriding risk of their use to commit or facilitate serious violations of human rights or international humanitarian law. The State of the World’s Human Rights 61