The United Nations peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon have once again condemned Israel for its actions, accusing it of endangering the lives of their soldiers. Last week, peacekeepers were targeted by shelling, and now they report that one of their bases has been breached by Israeli tanks.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) made this announcement on Sunday, stating that two Israeli tanks entered one of their sites after destroying the main gate.
Reports indicate that some peacekeepers are receiving treatment for skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues due to smoke from several nearby shells. Israeli attacks have already injured five peacekeepers since last Thursday, sparking global condemnation.
UNIFIL officials have emphasized that any deliberate attack would seriously violate international humanitarian law. They called on Israeli forces to explain these incidents.
Before UNIFIL's announcement, Netanyahu released a video statement on Sunday, calling on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to pull peacekeepers out of "harm's way."
Netanyahu claimed that the UN refused to withdraw peacekeepers from Hezbollah strongholds and conflict zones. Netanyahu claimed that they are being used as "human shields." by Hezbollah. He also confirmed that Israeli forces would continue their ground assault in southern Lebanon.
The United Nations has firmly stated that it will not yield to pressure to withdraw its peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, despite recent attacks on its forces and repeated calls from Netanyahu for their withdrawal.
The Israeli occupation forces justified the UNIFIL incident by stating that it "occurred while evacuating wounded soldiers under enemy fire."
The Israeli occupation forces commented, "It appears that during the incident while evacuating the wounded, two tanks retreated to a location they shouldn’t have entered due to the threat of fire, just a few meters into the UNIFIL site."
The UNIFIL will maintain "all its positions," including those near the border areas where Israel is currently engaged in conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated to reporters in New York on Monday.
Lacroix added that the decision to keep UNIFIL forces in place has the full support of the U.N. Security Council and the member states that contribute troops to the mission. Israel, however, has criticized the force, arguing that it has not succeeded in its mandate to stabilize the area amid Hezbollah's growing presence.
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer expressed at a press conference in Berlin that Germany is monitoring the situation in southern Lebanon "with concern."
Fischer noted that Berlin has received information indicating that five peacekeepers have been injured so far, and a UNIFIL police station has sustained significant damage.
The German Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that targeting UN peacekeeping soldiers is "absolutely unacceptable."
UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon face increasing hazards following recent Israeli military actions, with international demands for accountability. Despite calls for withdrawal, the UN remains resolute in maintaining its mission, viewing the region's stability as paramount amidst rising tensions.