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‘Unacceptable’: World reacts as Israel fires at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon says the attack on its peacekeepers was a ‘deliberate’ act by Israeli forces.10 Oct 2024
Updated:
4 hours ago
Israeli forces fired at UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers.
UNIFIL – the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon – said on Thursday that two peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force’s headquarters in the border area town of Naqoura, causing them to fall.
Any attack on peacekeepers is a “grave violation of international humanitarian law”, UNIFIL said in a statement.
On Friday, Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Israeli army hit a watchtower of a Sri Lankan battalion in Naqoura, part of UNIFIL, in the second such attack in as many days.
The peacekeeping organisation, which consists of about 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries and was established in 1978, said Israeli forces had “deliberately” fired at its positions along the border.
Here are some reactions to the attacks:
United Nations
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN undersecretary general for peace operations, told the UN Security Council that the “safety and security” of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon is “increasingly in jeopardy”.He said that operational activities had virtually come to a halt since September 23, when Israel launched a wave of strikes against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.
“Peacekeepers have been confined to their bases with significant periods of time in shelter,” he said, adding that UNIFIL was ready to support all efforts towards a diplomatic solution.
“UNIFIL is mandated to support the implementation of resolution 1701, but we must insist that it is for the parties themselves to implement the provisions of this resolution,” he told an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.
UN Security Council resolution 1701 gives UNIFIL a mandate to help the Lebanese army keep its southern border area with Israel free of weapons or armed personnel other than those of the Lebanese state.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Al Jazeera that the attack was a “very serious” development.
Tenenti explained that Israel had previously asked the peacekeepers to move from “certain positions” near the border, but “we decided to stay because it’s important for the UN flag to fly in [the] south of Lebanon”.
“If the situation becomes impossible for the mission to operate in the south of Lebanon … it will be up to the Security Council to decide how to move forward,” he said.
“At the moment, we are staying, we are trying to do whatever we can to monitor [and] to provide assistance,” Tenenti added.
Indonesia
Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi confirmed on Friday that two Indonesian peacekeepers had been injured in the assault and are in hospital for further observation.“Indonesia strongly condemns the attack,” she said. “Attacking UN personnel and property is a major violation of International Humanitarian Law.”
Indonesia, a staunch critic of Israel and supporter of Palestine, has about 1,232 personnel currently deployed with UNIFIL in Lebanon
Israel
Israel’s military said its troops opened fire near a UNIFIL base after instructing UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces.It said in a statement that Hezbollah fighters operate from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near UNIFIL posts.
The military said it “is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL”.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, said he recommended that the peacekeeping force relocate five kilometres (3.1 milies) north “while the situation along the Blue Line remains volatile as a result of Hezbollah aggression”, referring to the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.
United States
The White House is “deeply concerned” by reports Israel fired on UN peacekeeper headquarters in south Lebanon, a National Security Council spokesperson said."We understand Israel is conducting targeted operations near the Blue Line to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten Israeli citizens,” the spokesperson said. “While they undertake these operations, it is critical that they not threaten UN peacekeepers’ safety and security.”
Italy
Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL bases “totally unacceptable”.“This was not a mistake and not an accident,” Crosetto told a news conference.
"It could constitute a war crime and represented a very serious violation of international military law,” he said.
He added that he had summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand an explanation for the attack.
