Lebanon criticizes Israel’s request to the UN to remove blue helmets from the border
The Prime Minister of Lebanon denounced this Sunday, October 13, “a new refusal by Israel to respect international law”, after the Israeli head of government asked the UN to remove the “blue helmets” from the border area.
According to the French news agency, France-Presse (AFP), Najib Mikati said he “condemns the position” of Benjamin Netanyahu “and the Israeli aggression by UNIFIL”, made up of 10,000 elements in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese Prime Minister’s statements come after his Israeli counterpart directly asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to move soldiers to northern Lebanon, because if he did not do so, he would be making them “hostages of Hezbollah”. .
“Mr. Secretary General, withdraw the UNIFIL forces to a safe location. This must be done now, immediately,” declared Netanyahu during a speech, directly questioning Guterres, in English.
At least five peacekeepers have been injured in recent days during fighting between Israeli forces and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
In his message to António Guterres (who has no jurisdiction over FINUL, as the mission depends on the United Nations Security Council), Netanyahu assured that Israel has requested the withdrawal of the blue helmets on several occasions.
“It is time to remove UNIFIL from Hezbollah’s strongholds and combat zones,” said Netanyahu.
The Israeli Prime Minister lamented that the Israeli army had already made this request, only to be “constantly rejected”, a refusal “intended to provide human shields to Hezbollah terrorists”.
“Your refusal to withdraw UNIFIL forces makes its members hostage to Hezbollah and also puts the lives of our soldiers in danger,” Netanyahu stressed.
The Israeli Prime Minister said that Israel does “everything possible” to avoid harm to peacekeeping forces, but considered that the best way to avoid such incidents is to withdraw them from the territory, which would require a decision by the Security Council.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Saturday asked his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, to guarantee the safety of the peacekeepers and the Lebanese armed forces, following attacks on peacekeeping positions in the south of the country and the death of two Lebanese soldiers.
Gallant emphasized that the Israeli military will continue to take measures to “prevent harm” to UNIFIL troops, but warned that “Hezbollah operates and fires in the vicinity of UNIFIL positions, using peacekeeping missions as cover for its activities.”
