Netanyahu Directs UN to Remove Peacekeepers from Lebanon
The Israeli Prime Minister has accused UN forces of providing protection to Hezbollah, cautioning that they will be at risk unless they decide to withdraw. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the withdrawal of UNIFIL peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, asserting that their presence is endangering their safety by effectively “providing a human shield to Hezbollah terrorists.”
In a video message delivered in Hebrew on Sunday, Netanyahu urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take action, stating, “it is time for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the areas of combat.” He emphasized that “The IDF has repeatedly asked for this, and has been met with repeated refusals, all aimed at providing a human shield to Hezbollah terrorists.”
Established in 1978, UNIFIL, or the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces beyond the ‘blue line,’ which separates Lebanon from Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. Headquartered in Naqoura, it currently comprises approximately 10,000 troops from around 50 nations tasked with monitoring the demilitarization of southern Lebanon between the blue line and the Litani River.
Israel asserts that UNIFIL has failed to stop Hezbollah's entrenchment in the region while limiting Israel's ability to respond to the threats posed. Since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) crossed the blue line into southern Lebanon, UNIFIL has reported that Israeli forces have targeted its bases and outposts multiple times.
Recently, four peacekeepers from Sri Lanka and Indonesia were injured by Israeli tank fire directed at UNIFIL watchtowers. Additional gunfire hit the Naqoura area, with UNIFIL unable to determine the source of that fire. Israeli bulldozers have reportedly destroyed UNIFIL structures, and an Irish peacekeeping unit was encircled by Israeli tanks after resisting an IDF demand to vacate their outpost.
Turning to English, Netanyahu emphasized to Guterres the urgent need to “get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately.” He further cautioned, “Your refusal to evacuate the UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah,” asserting that “this endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers.”
In response, UNIFIL has refused to abandon its positions. A joint statement issued on Saturday by 40 nations contributing to the mission urged Israel to investigate the attacks on peacekeepers. The leaders of France, Italy, and Spain also expressed “outrage” over these incidents and accused Israel of violating UN Security Council resolution 1701, which prohibits Israeli operations in southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu acknowledged the injuries sustained by peacekeepers, stating that Israel “regrets” these incidents, but maintained that the “simple and obvious” solution to prevent further bloodshed is to “just get them out of the danger zone.”
Israel has intensified its military operations against Hezbollah in recent weeks, launching extensive airstrikes on Beirut, including one that resulted in the death of the group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Following these airstrikes, a ground invasion commenced, with the reported death toll in Lebanon exceeding 2,100, according to the country's Health Ministry. The IDF has confirmed the deaths of around two dozen of its soldiers in Lebanon, though Hezbollah claims that Israeli casualties are significantly higher.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
In a video message delivered in Hebrew on Sunday, Netanyahu urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take action, stating, “it is time for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the areas of combat.” He emphasized that “The IDF has repeatedly asked for this, and has been met with repeated refusals, all aimed at providing a human shield to Hezbollah terrorists.”
Established in 1978, UNIFIL, or the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces beyond the ‘blue line,’ which separates Lebanon from Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. Headquartered in Naqoura, it currently comprises approximately 10,000 troops from around 50 nations tasked with monitoring the demilitarization of southern Lebanon between the blue line and the Litani River.
Israel asserts that UNIFIL has failed to stop Hezbollah's entrenchment in the region while limiting Israel's ability to respond to the threats posed. Since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) crossed the blue line into southern Lebanon, UNIFIL has reported that Israeli forces have targeted its bases and outposts multiple times.
Recently, four peacekeepers from Sri Lanka and Indonesia were injured by Israeli tank fire directed at UNIFIL watchtowers. Additional gunfire hit the Naqoura area, with UNIFIL unable to determine the source of that fire. Israeli bulldozers have reportedly destroyed UNIFIL structures, and an Irish peacekeeping unit was encircled by Israeli tanks after resisting an IDF demand to vacate their outpost.
Turning to English, Netanyahu emphasized to Guterres the urgent need to “get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately.” He further cautioned, “Your refusal to evacuate the UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah,” asserting that “this endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers.”
In response, UNIFIL has refused to abandon its positions. A joint statement issued on Saturday by 40 nations contributing to the mission urged Israel to investigate the attacks on peacekeepers. The leaders of France, Italy, and Spain also expressed “outrage” over these incidents and accused Israel of violating UN Security Council resolution 1701, which prohibits Israeli operations in southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu acknowledged the injuries sustained by peacekeepers, stating that Israel “regrets” these incidents, but maintained that the “simple and obvious” solution to prevent further bloodshed is to “just get them out of the danger zone.”
Israel has intensified its military operations against Hezbollah in recent weeks, launching extensive airstrikes on Beirut, including one that resulted in the death of the group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Following these airstrikes, a ground invasion commenced, with the reported death toll in Lebanon exceeding 2,100, according to the country's Health Ministry. The IDF has confirmed the deaths of around two dozen of its soldiers in Lebanon, though Hezbollah claims that Israeli casualties are significantly higher.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
