An estimated 17,000 individuals went missing during the Lebanese Civil War from 1975 to 1990, many of whom were caught in crossfire, kidnapped, or killed. Countless massacres occurred across the country, yet the Lebanese authorities never established a dedicated committee or conducted a thorough investigation to determine the fate of those missing.

While it is highly likely that undiscovered mass graves still exist, spreading false information or rumors about mass graves to score political points only exacerbates the situation. Such actions do not contribute to resolving this dark chapter of our history.

A few days ago, a tweet claimed a mass grave had been found in Karantina. However, this was quickly debunked. Representatives from the governorate, the Directorate of Antiquities, and the police were immediately dispatched to investigate and confirmed that no traces of skulls or skeletons were found at the site.

The Lebanese authorities must develop a comprehensive plan to address the civil war’s unresolved issues and collaborate with all parties involved in the conflict to uncover the truth behind the 17,000+ missing individuals and any potential mass graves. This should have been a priority for any post-civil war government, yet it has not materialized. Until this happens, we must avoid the spread of rumors and exercise caution when revisiting the painful memories of the past.