Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, publicly urged the United Nations to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon, citing concerns for their safety amidst escalating tensions in the region.
Netanyahu’s call came after five United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon soldiers were injured in Israeli strikes over recent days. Despite the incidents, UNIFIL has refused to pull out, maintaining its positions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
In a video statement released by his office, Netanyahu made his position clear, directly appealing to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,”Mr Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately.”
He stressed the need for swift action, accusing the peacekeepers’ presence of inadvertently providing cover for Hezbollah militants, who are based in the area.
Netanyahu elaborated during a cabinet meeting, revealing that the Israeli military had repeatedly requested UNIFIL to vacate the region, only to be met with persistent refusals.
“Your refusal to evacuate the UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers,” he added.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the injury of the peacekeepers, expressing regret over the situation.
“We regret the injuring of UNIFIL soldiers and we are doing everything in our power to prevent this injuring,” he said, before emphasizing that the best way to protect the peacekeepers was for them to leave the area entirely.
UNIFIL, which was established in 1978 to oversee a ceasefire following the Israel-Lebanon conflict and now includes around 9,500 troops from various countries, has stood firm in its decision to stay put.
A spokesperson for the peacekeeping mission, Andrea Tenenti, confirmed on Saturday that there had been a “unanimous decision” among the troops to remain in their positions despite Israel’s requests.
“It’s important for the UN flag to still fly high in this region, and to be able to report to the Security Council,” Tenenti explained.
The request from Israel would have seen UNIFIL withdraw from positions as close as five kilometers (about three miles) from the Blue Line, the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon. However, UNIFIL’s refusal covers its 29 positions across southern Lebanon.
The international response to these incidents has been one of solidarity with the peacekeepers. On Saturday, 34 nations that contribute troops to the UN mission in Lebanon, including Indonesia, Italy, and India, condemned the recent attacks on the force.
In a joint statement issued on X, they declared, “Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated.”
These nations reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace in the volatile region, underscoring the critical role UNIFIL continues to play.
