The debris of a house destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Deir Billah, Lebanon, is photographed on October 13, 2024. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the United Nations to immediately remove UNIFIL peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon. file | Photo Credit: Getty Images
The UN Security Council expressed “strong concern” on Monday (October 14, 2024) Israel fires and injures UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon during the fight intensifiedReiterated its support for their role in supporting security in the region.
It is the first statement by the UN’s most powerful body since Israel’s attacks on UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) peacekeeping bases in Lebanon last week, which have drawn international condemnation.
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed on Monday (October 14, 2024) that the peacekeepers will remain in all their positions, while Israel has withdrawn 5 from the peacekeepers during its ground km (3 mi) north. Attack on Lebanon.
Israel is stepping up its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon across the UN-drawn border between the two countries. A year ago, the Iran-backed terrorist group started firing rockets into Gaza to show solidarity with its ally Hamas, following which the two sides have been clashing. Deadly attacks by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 marked the beginning of the war.
The Security Council statement issued after emergency closed consultations on Lebanon did not name Israel, Lebanon or Hezbollah. Read by the current President of the Council, Swiss UN Ambassador Pascal Barrisville, it urges all parties “to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and UN premises.”
The 15-member Security Council is deeply divided over the war in Gaza, with the United States defending its ally Israel as support for the Palestinians grows among members and casualties rise. The Biden administration has become more serious about civilian deaths as well as recent attacks on UNIFIL.
US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood told reporters that “It’s good that the council can speak with one voice on what’s on the minds of all people around the world at this time – and that’s the situation in Lebanon.”
The council’s statement sends a message to the Lebanese people “that the Council cares, that the Council is keeping an eye on this issue and the Council spoke with one voice today,” Mr Wood said.
Council members expressed “deep concern” over civilian casualties and suffering, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the increasing number of internally displaced people.
More than 1,400 people, including civilians, medics and Hezbollah fighters, have been killed and 1.2 million displaced in Lebanon over the past month. Nearly 60 Israelis have been killed in Hezbollah attacks in the past year. Israel says it wants to drive the militant group away from the border so that about 60,000 displaced Israelis can return to their homes.
The Security Council statement called on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, which requires the protection of civilians.
Council members also called for full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah war “and recognized the need for more practical measures to achieve that outcome.”
That resolution calls for the Lebanese Army to deploy across the south and disarm all armed groups, including Hezbollah – neither of which has happened in the past 18 years.
Mr. Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told reporters after his closed Security Council briefing that five UNIFIL peacekeepers had been injured in recent days and that the United Nations had protested against Israel.
Israel has indicated that “there will be investigations regarding some of these incidents… and we will see what comes out of it,” he said.
Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani claimed on Sunday (October 13, 2024) that Israel has tried to maintain constant contact with UNIFIL and any incidents of harm to UN forces at the “highest level”. Will be investigated.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on UNIFIL to heed Israel’s evacuation warnings, accusing it of “providing a human shield” to Hezbollah.
“We regret the injury to UNIFIL soldiers, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent this injury. But the simple and obvious way to ensure this is to simply get them out of the danger zone,” he said on Sunday (October 13, 2024) in a video addressed to the UN Secretary General, who has been banned from entering Israel.
Mr. Lacroix stressed on Monday (October 14, 2024) that it is the responsibility of all parties to ensure the safety of peacekeepers.
He also said it was important that the peacekeepers remain in their positions “as we all hope that there will be a return to the negotiating table, and ultimately a real effort for the full implementation of Resolution 1701.”
published – October 15, 2024 12:04 PM IST