Nadra Hayek
Nadra Hayek was killed during an Israeli airstrike that hit her family’s residential apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon, shortly before a ceasefire in November 2024. Reports and investigations indicated that there were no confirmed military targets in or near the building, suggesting that she was a civilian victim of the strike.
Nadra Hayek’s death resulted from a targeted aerial bombing carried out using a precision-guided munition, reportedly a GBU-39 bomb, which struck her home in central Beirut. The attack caused major destruction across multiple floors of the building and occurred without any prior warning for evacuation. Investigations by organizations such as Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights found no evidence of military objectives nearby. This has raised concerns that the strike may have violated international humanitarian law, as it led to the deaths of civilians in what appeared to be a non-military location.
Biography
Nadra Hayek was a Lebanese civilian and the mother of Ali Cherri. She lived in her family home in Beirut, where she spent her life caring for her family. Described as an ordinary person, she was part of a close-knit household and shared a life centered around family and stability.
Nadra Hayek, aged 76, lived in Beirut in a multigenerational home built by her family decades earlier. Alongside her husband, Mahmoud Cherri, she raised her children and focused on providing them with opportunities for a better future. Despite living through periods of instability in Lebanon, she remained in her home and maintained a life grounded in family values. Her son later emphasized that both parents worked hard, despite limited formal education, to ensure their children could pursue better lives. She ultimately became one of several civilian victims killed in the airstrike.
Pleas of Surviving Relatives and Family if any
Her son, Ali Cherri, has called for a formal investigation into the attack, urging authorities in France to recognize it as a possible war crime against civilians. He expressed deep grief over losing his mother in such a violent incident and stressed the importance of identifying those responsible. His appeal reflects a broader demand for justice, accountability, and adherence to international humanitarian law to protect civilians in conflict zones.
Additional Information
Nadra Hayek was killed during an Israeli airstrike that hit her family’s residential apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon, shortly before a ceasefire in November 2024. Reports and investigations indicated that there were no confirmed military targets in or near the building, suggesting that she was a civilian victim of the strike.
Sources & References
Artist files war crime case in Paris over Israeli strike that killed parents in Lebanon1 theguardian.com Open source
Artist Ali Cherri Files Civil Complaint Against Israel for Killing His Family, Committing a War Crime2 artforum.com Open source
Lebanese Artist Accuses Israel of War Crime for Strike That Killed His Parents3 hyperallergic.com Open source