LAST UPDATE | 18 mins ago
TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has accused Israel of “undermining” the United Nations and its peacekeeping force in Lebanon as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to demand that the organisation removes its troops.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said today that there would be “no withdrawal” of the United Nations’ Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) – which involved about 9,500 troops including from Ireland.
European ministers are in Luxembourg to discuss global conflicts where the group will consider sanctioning Israel for its actions in Gaza. Later today, the UN Security Council will convene for an emergency session on fighting in Lebanon.
Today’s meeting takes place in the context of Israel’s military invasion of parts southern Lebanon in its offensive against Hezbollah. It also comes one day after an Israeli tank “destroyed” UNIFIL’s HQ’s camp entrance before “forcibly” entering.
Smoke – emitted from the tank – caused “skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions” for 15 peacekeepers.
Peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been injured five times in the last week and, in all but one incident, UNIFIL has said Israel were the perpetrators. No Irish peacekeeper has been injured.
The force – who has been present in Lebanon since the late 1970s and consistently based in the south since 2006 – has said it will see out its mandate but Israel claims that Hezbollah is using them as human shields.
Martin told reporters he will be voicing Ireland’s opinion that there can be no ‘equivocation, hesitation or relaxation’ in respect of UNIFIL’s mandate.
The Tánaiste stressed that UNIFIL and the UN has a “rules-based order” when it comes to it’s peacekeeping operations in Lebanon. He accused Netanyahu and the Israeli Government of attempting to “undermine” their mandates.
“It is very, very concerning in terms of both the statement from the Prime Minister of Israel, but also the behavior and activity on the Blue Line and in respect of UN posts and across Lebanon,” he said.
Ministers are today expected to condemn the attacks by the Israeli military on UN peacekeepers at their meeting.
UNIFIL peacekeepers remain on the ground and are continuing their observations of breaches of international law today. The battalion requested that Israel explain their actions at its HQ yesterday.
In a statement, the Israeli military said its tank was retreating from an attack by Hezbollah nearby. It claimed the smoke was used to cover its position and said its actions were carried out in coordination with UNIFIL.
It denied claims by UNIFIL that its peacekeepers were in danger at the time of the incident.
Martin recognised the position of the Israeli military – to retaliate against Hezbollah who have fired more than 10,000 rockets into Israel over the last year – and called on the militant group to stop the attacks.
He called for the war to end but stressed that diplomacy and peacekeeping missions, such as UNIFIL, will be a necessity in that peace process moving forward.
A statement from Taoiseach Simon Harris said he relayed the Government’s ‘serious concerns’ over the attack during a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
He labelled the Israeli attacks “an outrageous, totally unacceptable breach of international law”.
High Representative Josep Borrell, the European Commissioner in charge of Foreign Policy, said that it was “completely unacceptable” for Israel to carry out attacks on their positions.
The group of minister will today also reaffirm its support for UN aid groups in Palestine, such as UNRWA, and demand a ceasefire in the region.
Reports from Jabalia in northern Gaza this weekend said civilians were being forcibly displaced from their homes during air raids and ground assaults.
Yesterday, the Tánaiste and Taoiseach accused the Israeli government of committing “war crimes” in the city. Humanitarian aid shipments have been blocked.
It was viewed as the strongest declaration of condemnation by the Irish Government of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian region since it’s military’s offence began last year.
The Tánaiste said the importance of keeping UNIFIL in Lebanon – as “eyes and ears on the ground” – is evident when compared to the situation in Gaza.
“The world has really no full picture of what’s happening in Gaza,” Martin said.
He said scenes from northern Gaza are “quite shocking in term of the mass expulsion of people”, the death, destruction and violence committed against innocent people
Overnight, five children were killed by an Israeli drone strike on a school where displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge. Most of the population have been forced to move from their homes in the last year.
At least 15 people were killed in the strike.
Hospitals in the centre of the country were also targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
Borrell added that the ministers will today discuss the conflict in Gaza in the context of sanctioning Israeli settlements and, possibly, two ministers from the Israeli Government.
He said that the matter – which the Tánaiste has voiced support for on a number of occasions - will be for the ministers to debate and decide later today.
- With reporting by © – AFP 2024
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