In a video statement issued by his office, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, October 13, 2024, called on the UN Chief to move the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL out of “harm’s way,” adding that it should be done “right now, immediately.”
Netanyahu’s appeal to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres comes a day after the UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon refused to withdraw from the border area despite five of its members being wounded in Israeli fire in recent days.
Forty nations that contribute to the peacekeeping force strongly condemned recent attacks by Israel.
Netanyahu, speaking at a cabinet meeting, said that Israeli forces had asked UNIFIL several times to leave but it had “met with repeated refusals” that provided a “human shield to Hezbollah terrorists.”
“Your refusal to evacuate the UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers.
“We regret the injuring of UNIFIL soldiers and we are doing everything in our power to prevent this injuring. But the simple and obvious way to ensure this is simply to get them out of the danger zone.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
UNIFIL has refused to leave its positions in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL Spokesman, Andrea Tenenti said in an interview on Saturday, October 12, 2024, that there was a unanimous decision to stay because it’s important for the UN flag to still fly high in the region, and to be able to report to the Security Council.
Tenenti said that Israel had asked UNIFIL to withdraw from positions “up to five kilometres [three miles] from the Blue Line” separating both countries, but the peacekeepers refused.
That would have included its 29 positions in Lebanon’s south.
Tenenti noted that he fears Israeli attacks on Hezbollah could soon spiral “into a regional conflict with catastrophic impact for everyone.”
He added that there is “no military solution.”
Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand for Guterres to move UN peacekeepers away from Lebanon’s border.
Mikati said that Beirut “condemns Netanyahu’s position and the Israeli aggression against UNIFIL” peacekeepers.
“The warning that Netanyahu addressed to … Guterres demanding the removal of the UNIFIL represents a new chapter in the enemy’s approach of not complying with international [norms].”
Najib Mikati
UN Peacekeepers Denounce Israel’s Attacks
In a statement, the UN peacekeepers decried Israel’s attacks.
The force said after the latest attack that Israeli army must obey its obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at the Lebanon border.
The peacekeepers said that in addition to the assault this morning, Israeli forces denied passage of a critical UNIFIL logistical movement yesterday.
“Breaching and entering a UN position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701. We have requested an explanation from the [Israeli military] from these shocking violations.”
UNIFIL
Narrating the latest attack, the force disclosed that Israeli tanks burst through the gates of its peacekeeping force base in southern Lebanon after three platoons of Israeli soldiers crossed the Blue Line.
The UN peacekeepers said in a statement that at 4:30am, two Israeli army Merkava tanks destroyed their main gate and forcibly entered the position while peacekeepers were asleep. “The tanks left about 45 minutes later after UNIFIL protested through our liaison mechanism, saying [the Israeli military] presence was putting peacekeepers in danger,” it said.
At 6:40am, peacekeepers reported several rounds being fired about 100 metres (328 feet) north of their position in what appeared to be an attack with some sort of chemical agent.
It added that despite putting on protective masks, 15 peacekeepers suffered effects including skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions after the smoke entered the camp, noting that the peacekeepers are receiving treatment.
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