A Lebanese judge has ruled to halt legal proceedings against Beirut port blast investigator Tarek Bitar, a decision that could clear the way for him to fully resume his stalled probe into one of the deadliest non-nuclear explosions in history. 

Judge Habib Rizkallah issued a ruling barring the prosecution of Bitar in an “usurpation of authority” case filed against him by former public prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat.

The ruling was delivered to the current public prosecutor, who reviewed it and chose not to file an appeal, sources told Al-Modon.

Families of the victims of the August 4, 2020 port explosion had staged a protest on Thursday, urging the judiciary not to treat Bitar as having overstepped his authority and calling for the long-delayed indictment to be issued.

“What is required of Judge Rizkallah is to conclude the decision-making process so that Judge Bitar can continue his duties,” William Noun, whose brother was killed in the blast, told local radio station Voice of Lebanon.

Cecile Roukoz, another relative of a victim, echoed the demand.

“We are calling for Judge Bitar to be allowed to carry out his work and issue the indictment in the Port blast case,” she said.

Judicial sources said Rizkallah’s ruling formally blocks the prosecution of Bitar in the usurpation-of-authority case, removing one of the key legal obstacles that had paralyzed the investigation for months.

Rizkallah had already taken a step in that direction earlier by lifting a travel ban imposed on Bitar, allowing him to travel to Bulgaria to question Igor Grechushkin, the owner of the ship that carried the ammonium nitrate cargo that detonated at Beirut’s port.

The Beirut port blast, caused by the detonation of hundreds of tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate, killed more than 220 people, injured thousands and devastated large swathes of the Lebanese capital. The investigation has been repeatedly obstructed by political pressure, legal challenges and disputes within the judiciary.