Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati has stated that the government is ready to implement Resolution 1701 that was adopted after the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
This came as he stated that diplomatic communications to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah have “intensified in recent hours” ahead of a UN Security Council meeting.
He noted that there are contacts taking place between the United States and France with the aim of reviving a ceasefire declaration for a specific period in order to resume the search for political solutions.
“We also stressed the priority of stopping the Israeli aggression that is causing a large number of martyrs and wounded and does not spare civilians, ambulances and relief personnel, and this is a matter that violates all international laws and regulations.”
Najib Mikati
UN Security council resolution 1701 was intended to resolve the 2006 Lebanon war, by calling for a full cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, and that only the Lebanese army and the UNIFIL force have a presence between the blue line separating Israel and Lebanon and the Litani River, about 30km north of the blue line.
Meanwhile, UNIFIL confirmed two peacekeepers were wounded when an Israeli tank fired at an observation tower at its headquarters in Naqoura, southern Lebanon.
It said in a statement that Israeli soldiers also fired on UN position (UNP) 1-31 in Ras Naqoura, hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system, adding that an Israeli drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance. “They also deliberately fired on UNP 1-32A, where regular Tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began, damaging lighting and a relay station,” it added.
“We remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times. UNIFIL peacekeepers are present in south Lebanon to support a return to stability under security council mandate.”
UNIFIL
It asserted that any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701, adding “We are following up with the IDF on these matters.”
Israeli Evacuation Warnings For Lebanese Tagged Inadequate
Separately, Amnesty International described the evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli army to residents of southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut as inadequate.
In a statement, the rights group said the orders do not absolve Israel of its obligations under international law to never target civilians and take all possible measures to minimise harm to them.
Agnes Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary general stated that the agency’s analysis shows that not only did the warnings issued by the Israeli military include misleading maps, but they were also issued at short notice – in one instance less than 30 minutes before strikes began – in the middle of the night, via social media, when many people would be asleep, offline or not following media reports.
“Furthermore, instructing the residents of entire towns and villages in south Lebanon to evacuate is an overly general warning that is inadequate and raises questions around whether this is intended to create the conditions for mass displacement.
“Regardless of the efficacy of the warnings, they do not mean that Israel can treat any remaining civilians as targets.”
Agnes Callamard
She added that people who choose to stay in their homes or are unable to leave because members of their household have limited mobility, due to disability, age or other reasons, “continue to be protected by international humanitarian law.”
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