Lebanon’s Prosecutor General, Jamal Al-Hajjar, has reactivated the stalled investigation into the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, lifting restrictions on the judicial probe led by Judge Tarek Bitar. This decision allows Bitar’s rulings to be enforced, marking a significant breakthrough in a case long hindered by political and legal obstruction.

The blast, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, killed more than 220 people, injured thousands, and devastated large parts of the Lebanese capital. However, repeated political interference and legal challenges had crippled efforts to hold officials accountable.

According to Annahar, Bitar is expected to question several high-ranking security officials next week, including former Army Commander General Jean Kahwaji, former General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim, and State Security Director General Tony Saliba. The judge aims to conclude his investigation by the end of April.

This judicial breakthrough follows Hajjar’s decision to overturn rulings issued by his predecessor, Ghassan Oueidat, who had blocked cooperation with Bitar. Oueidat’s move effectively froze the probe, drawing widespread criticism from victims’ families. Many now see Hajjar’s decision as a long-awaited step toward truth and justice.

“This decision is essential to completing the investigation into a crime of this magnitude,” said Elie Hasrouti, whose father, Ghassan Hasrouti, worked for over 35 years at the grain silos adjacent to the blast site. His family lost all trace of him for 12 days following the explosion.

“Conditions have finally allowed for the investigation to move forward,” Hasrouti told Annahar.

Hasrouti said he is now awaiting the issuance of indictments and formal charges, recalling the pledges made by Lebanon’s leadership.

“From the beginning, the president and prime minister spoke of their commitment to seeing the investigation through. Now, we are finally seeing real steps toward that goal.”

More than five years after the explosion, the victims’ families remain determined to see those responsible held accountable. But can Hajjar’s decision reignite hope that justice is within reach?

“I don’t want to preempt the investigation or court rulings,” Hasrouti said. “For me, justice is about ensuring that such a catastrophe never happens again to any Lebanese citizen.”

“Our pursuit of justice isn’t about revenge—it’s about protecting our society, our people, and public life in Lebanon.”

Hasrouti acknowledged that no verdict could undo the suffering endured by the victims and their families, but he stressed that Lebanon could only find peace once accountability is served.

Following Hajjar’s decision, Hasrouti called for measures to prevent further obstruction of the judicial process.

“All necessary steps must be taken to ensure that delays like the ones we have faced do not happen again,” he said. “We must learn from this case and address the flaws that allowed both the explosion and the years-long obstruction of justice.”

Hasrouti pointed to multiple levels of failure—ranging from administrative mismanagement to lapses in governance, public safety, and institutional accountability.

“If we truly want justice, we must expose and correct every failure that led to this disaster,” he said. “Without that, justice will never be complete.”