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UNIFIL says Israeli forces crossed the Blue Line, ‘destroyed’ main base gate

The UN says Israeli tanks burst through the gates of its base for peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon after three platoons of Israeli soldiers also crossed the Blue Line.

  • The UN peacekeepers said in a statement at 4:30am (01:30 GMT) that 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.

Source: Al Jazeera

New Zealand FM expresses ‘alarm’ at attacks on UN peacekeepers

  • New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said that “any targeting of UN peacekeepers is a violation of international law and is completely unacceptable”.
  • “The UN Interim Force in Lebanon [UNIFIL] and the UN Truce Supervision Organisation play a critical stabilising role in the region and must be part of efforts to reduce tensions. Israel’s actions undermine the United Nations’ ability to carry out its mandate, which includes mediating conflicts and providing humanitarian support,” Peters wrote on X.

Source: Al Jazeera

EU alarmed by Israeli attacks on UN mission in Lebanon

The European Union has condemned Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon.

  • It expressed “particularly grave concern regarding the attacks” by the Israeli military against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which wounded several peacekeepers.

  • “Such attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable,” a statement said.
  • “We urgently await explanations and a thorough investigation from the Israeli authorities about the attacks against UNIFIL, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of south Lebanon.”

  • The EU also expressed concern for Hezbollah’s “continued launch of rockets into Israel” and Israeli raids on densely populated areas of Lebanon, “causing a heavy toll on civilians and the displacement of many”.

Source: Al Jazeera

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France, Germany, Italy, UK deeply concerned by Israeli attacks on UNIFIL

  • The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern in the wake of recent attacks by IDF [the Israeli military] on UNIFIL bases, which have left several peacekeepers injured,” in southern Lebanon.
  • “These attacks must stop immediately. We condemn all threats to UNIFIL’s security,” the ministers said.

The statement from the four US allies contrasted with another statement issued by the UN Security Council on Monday which did not single out Israel as the perpetrator of the attacks.

The United States, which is a member of the Security Council, has previously used its veto to block criticism of Israel in the 15-member body.

Source: Al Jazeera

UN peacekeepers remain at base after Israeli attack in south Lebanon

This Israeli attack on the UNIFIL base is extremely serious. They used a tank to burst down a gate and then launched bombs that were chemical in nature – as the injuries to the peacekeepers suggest.

  • They were taken for treatment. This is a very serious escalation.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has doubled down, saying the UN peacekeepers have to leave. We don’t know if they’ll leave or not. But right now they remain in their base.

Getting rid of an observer force would make the international community blind to what’s happening. This is very concerning for the Lebanese army and the United Nations.

Source: Imrah Khan – Al Jazeera