EU condemns Israeli attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon
by BusinessMirror, https://www.facebook.com/, https://www.facebook.com/BusinessMirror/ · BusinessMirror- BusinessMirror
- October 14, 2024
- 2 minute read
BRUSSELS—The European Union condemned attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and rejected allegations that UN Secretary-General António Guterres is responsible for obstructing the Israeli army.
Sixteen EU countries are contributing to the UNIFIL peacekeeping force. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that “their work is very important. It’s completely unacceptable attacking United Nations troops.” Five peacekeepers have been wounded in attacks that struck their positions, with most blamed on Israeli forces.
Speaking in Luxembourg before chairing talks between EU foreign ministers, Borrell underlined that the UN Security Council decides whether UNIFIL should be moved, “so stop blaming Secretary Guterres.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for UNIFIL to heed Israel’s warnings to evacuate, accusing them of “providing a human shield” to Hezbollah. In a video addressed to Guterres, who has been banned from entering Israel, Netanyahu told the UN chief “to get (UNIFIL) out of the danger zone.”
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, whose country is one of Europe’s strongest backers of Israel, said the attacks are “simply unacceptable” and that UNIFIL will not be leaving.
“No, they will not withdraw. Yes, they will continue to fulfill the mandate. And yes, we demand on each and every party to respect this mandate and respect the security and safety of our blue helmets,” he told reporters.
Israel has been escalating its campaign against Hezbollah after a year of exchanges of fire, while it is also at war with Hamas in Gaza.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many were fighters but say women and children make up more than half of the fatalities. The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its population of 2.3 million people.
It’s been more than a year since Hamas-led militants blew holes in Israel’s security fence and stormed into army bases and farming communities, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. They are still holding about 100 captives inside Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.
New Zealand’s Luxon condemns targeting peacekeepers
WELLINGTON, New Zealand—“It is totally, utterly unacceptable for Israel to be targeting UN Peacekeepers,” New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters in the capital on Monday.
“I think the whole world is outraged that Israel is targeting UN facilities. They are there on a peacekeeping mission to try and keep the peace on that border,” he said. AP
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