France, Italy and Spain slam IDFs unjustifiable attack after peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at UNFILs HQ
France, Italy and Spain have slammed Israels unjustified attack after peacekeepers were injured following an Israeli tank firing on the UNFILs headquarters.
France, Italy and Spain have slammed Israels unjustified attack after peacekeepers were injured following an Israeli tank firing on the UNFILs headquarters.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) said Israeli tank fire on its headquarters in the countrys south wounded two of its members.
It accused Israel of repeatedly hitting its positions when an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFILs headquarters in Naqura.
A UNIFIL spokesperson said they have been attacked four times in two days. Today, it was said that a second strike injured two more peacekeepers, one seriously.
The move led to widespread condemnation and prompted Italys Defence Ministry to summon Israels ambassador in protest.
The three countries tonight released a joint statement accusing Israel of violating its obligations under humanitarian international law by targeting the UN peacekeepers.
They called for an immediate ceasefire, expressing their outrage at the attacks.
It comes after the UNFIL said last week it had rejected Israeli demands to relocate from some of its positions.
UNIFIL, which has about 10,000 peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon, has called for a ceasefire since an escalation between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah on September 23, after a year of cross-border fire.
Yesterday, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon said Israeli tank fire on its headquarters (pictured) in the countrys south wounded two of its members
UN peacekeepers hold their flag, as they observe Israeli excavators attempt to destroy tunnels built by Hezbollah in 2019
Pictured is Emmanuel Macron, the President of France
Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pictured speaking above
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is seen on October 9 in Madrid
The statement by the leaders of France, Italy and Spain on the recent targeting of UNIFIL said: As longstanding contributing nations to UNIFIL and partners of Lebanon and Israel, We, leaders of France, Italy and Spain, condemn the recent targeting of UNIFIL by the IDF.
We express our outrage after several peacekeepers were injured in Naqoura. These attacks constitute serious violation of the obligations of Israel under UNSCR 1701 and under humanitarian international law.
Those attacks are unjustifiable and shall immediately come to an end. We recall that all peacekeepers must be protected and reiterate our praise for the continued and indispensable commitment of UNIFIL troops/personnel in this very challenging context.
We count on Israels commitment to the security of UN and bilateral peacekeeping missions in Lebanon as well as international organisations active in the region. We further call for an immediate ceasefire as well as for the full implementation of UNSCR1701 by all parties, which is the only way to allow for Israeli and Lebanese people to return to their homes in security.
We reiterate our commitment to the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 as well as to the UNIFIL mission whose contribution to a cessation of hostilities will be critical.
This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFILs headquarters in Naqura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall, the force said yesterday.
Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Sky News his peacekeepers have been attacked four times in two days.
He said the IDF targeted the tower inside UNIFIL headquarters yesterday but there was another attack 100m from the hospital inside the HQ today that injured another two peacekeepers, one seriously.
Even the secretary general yesterday was very vocal. This is a violation of international humanitarian law, attacking peacekeepers in peacekeeping operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters
Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border in a file image from last year
The base of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon
Spanish peacekeepers of the UNIFIL coordinate their patrol with the Lebanese Military Police, in Marjayoun in south Lebanon on October 8
The two peacekeepers did not suffer serious injuries, but they remain in hospital, it said. A UNIFIL spokeswoman said they were Indonesian.
According to UNIFIL, the Israeli military hit a position in Ras Naqura, further to the south, on Thursday.
The peacekeeping force said it hit the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system.
An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance, it said.
UNIFILs Naqura headquarters and nearby positions have been repeatedly hit, the force said.
On Wednesday, IDF soldiers deliberately fired at and disabled the positions perimeter-monitoring cameras, it added.
They also deliberately fired on (a site) where regular tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began, damaging lighting and a relay station.
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, it said.
The defence minister of Italy, which along with Indonesia is among UNIFILs largest troop contributors, summoned the Israeli ambassador on Thursday after the peacekeepers were wounded, a government source told AFP.
Spanish peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) coordinate their patrol with the Lebanese Military Police, in Marjayoun in south Lebanon on October 8
An Israeli Army tank is transported, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, October 10, 2024
UNIFIL last week said the Israeli military, before it began ground operations inside Lebanon, had asked the peacekeepers to relocate from some positions.
The peacekeeping mission rejected the demand, which the president of Ireland, Michael Higgins, called an insult to the most important global institution. Ireland has about 370 troops in the mission.
On Sunday UNIFIL warned that Israeli operations near one of its positions southeast of Maroun al-Ras were extremely dangerous and compromising the Blue Helmets safety.
Israel has pounded what it says are Hezbollah positions in Lebanon in the past two weeks, killing more than 1,200 people and displacing more than a million people from their homes, according to official figures.
It has said it is carrying out limited incursions across its northern border, while Hezbollah has repeatedly said it was firing on Israeli soldiers trying to advance in the area.
Earlier on Thursday, Hezbollah said that it has destroyed an Israeli tank advancing towards Ras al-Naqura, and that it had fired rockets at Israeli troops who then tried to retrieve their wounded.
The Iran-backed group also said it fired rockets at Israel troops in another Lebanese area along the frontier called Mais al-Jabal.
It said it fired rockets at several areas in northern Israel, including one area north of the city of Haifa.
UNIFIL was set up in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces after they invaded Lebanon in reprisal for a Palestinian attack.
It was bolstered in Security Council Resolution 1701 after Hezbollah and Israel fought a war in 2006, and its peacekeepers are tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between the two sides.
