Egypt Daily News – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a grave warning regarding the recent breach of a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon by Israeli tanks, stating that assaults on international peacekeeping forces could amount to a war crime.
This follows an incident where two Israeli Merkava tanks reportedly entered a UNIFIL site, damaging its main entrance. Guterres emphasized the importance of safeguarding UNIFIL personnel and facilities, underscoring that any such attacks violate international law, particularly international humanitarian law.
In response to this breach, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that UNIFIL forces remain in their locations and the UN flag continues to fly. The Secretary-General has called on all parties involved, including the Israeli military, to avoid actions that would threaten the safety of peacekeeping forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the UN to evacuate UNIFIL troops from areas of potential conflict in Lebanon, claiming that their presence effectively makes them human shields for Hezbollah.
He notes that previous requests for the withdrawal of UNIFIL from Hezbollah’s strongholds have been declined. Conversely, Hezbollah has dismissed Israel’s claims, arguing that the Israeli government seeks to remove peacekeeping observers to facilitate its military actions without oversight.
