Beirut: Justice or Oblivion for the 2020 Explosion?

Five years after the Beirut port explosion in 2020, which killed over 218 people, the quest for justice continues. The investigation has faced political interference and delays, but 2025 is considered a pivotal year for the case.

According to Aljazeera, impunity is deeply rooted in Lebanon. The explosion was caused by the storage of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate in improper conditions. Top officials had been informed about the dangerous cargo but took no action.

Judicial investigations were replaced and interrupted, but in 2025, Judge Jamal Hajjar allowed Judge Bitar to resume investigations. Since then, high-ranking individuals have appeared in the interrogations.

Lawyers and activists consider 2025 a turning point, due to Bitar's resumption of the investigation, the new government, and international pressure. However, they call for institutional guarantees for the independence of the judiciary.

Lawyer Tania Daou-Alam, whose husband was killed in the explosion, has filed a lawsuit in the US against TGS, seeking compensation and accountability.

The case symbolizes Lebanon's ability to escape impunity and enforce accountability.