Global outrage over Israeli threats against UNIFIL

Global outrage over Israeli threats against UNIFIL

TEHRAN - International anger at threats by Israel and its Prime Minister against the United Nations peacekeeping troops in Lebanon is mounting.

The UN Security Council has expressed “strong concern” after Israeli forces injured several troops with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The council’s statement was its first reaction to the rising Israeli attacks against UNIFIL’s troops and bases, which are scattered across the Lebanese border. 

“UN peacekeepers and UN premises must never be the target of an attack,” the 15-member council said in a statement passed by consensus. 

It also urged all parties “to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and UN premises”. 

UNIFIL says it is being “deliberately attacked”. 

As the UN troops, headquarters, and compounds in southern Lebanon come under Israeli armed attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the blue helmets to evacuate the area.  

Days after Tel Aviv declared the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, “persona non grata,” Netanyahu addressed him directly. 

“Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately,” Netanyahu warned. 

The Irish Foreign Minister, Micheal Martin, has accused Israel of trying to prevent the world from seeing what Israeli troops are doing in Lebanon and Gaza.

Questioned on what was behind the Israeli demands for UNIFIL to leave their bases, Martin said, “Essentially to drive the eyes and ears out of south Lebanon and to give itself free rein.

“We see what’s happening in northern Gaza, for example, in terms of the necessity of eyes and ears on the ground. The world has really no full picture of what’s happening in Gaza.

“Israel is essentially now undermining [not only] the United Nations and the United Nations peacekeeping force, but the very rules-based international order, and it needs to step back.” 

The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has called on the European Union’s 27 members to suspend the bloc’s free trade agreement with Israel. 

The UK, France, Germany, and Italy released a joint statement saying Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers are contrary to international humanitarian law.

“We, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, express our deep concern in the wake of recent attacks by IDF on UNIFIL bases, which have left several peacekeepers injured. These attacks must stop immediately. We condemn all threats to UNIFIL’s security,” the statement read.

“Any deliberate attack against UNIFIL goes against international humanitarian law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. The protection of peacekeepers is incumbent upon all parties to a conflict.”

Critics say issuing statements of condemnation does not go far enough to prevent Israel’s crimes. 

The UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, and France have accused Israel of breaching international humanitarian law but have not taken any action on the ground to ensure Israel stops breaching IHL. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned, “The image of a United Nations that cannot even protect its own personnel is shameful and worrying for the international system.”

In a televised address, he added, “We are curious what else the Security Council is waiting for to stop Israel.”  

UNIFIL forces have repeatedly come under attack over the recent days. A number of its peacekeepers have been seriously injured as a result of the Israeli attacks. 

UNIFIL said two Israeli Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of one of its bases and forcibly entered on Sunday. 

After the tanks left, shells exploded 100 meters away, releasing smoke that blew across the base and caused skin irritation.

UNIFIL called the incident a “further flagrant violation of international law”.

Over the past week, a peacekeeper was “hit by gunfire due to ongoing military activity” in the city of Naqoura, UNIFIL said. The soldier underwent surgery to remove the bullet, it added.

Two Sri Lankan peacekeepers were injured by explosions near an observation tower at the UN headquarters in Naqoura.

One of them was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

In another incident, an Israeli army bulldozer hit the perimeter of a separate UNIFIL position while Israeli tanks moved nearby. 

Israeli tank fire hit the same UNIFIL headquarters, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers.

UNIFIL also announced that Israeli soldiers had attacked a bunker at a base where peacekeepers were sheltering, damaging vehicles and a communication system.

Despite coming under Israeli attack as the regime’s forces struggle to invade south Lebanon, UNIFIL has refused to withdraw from the border region.
 

source: tehrantimes.com